Description

On 19 December 2002, a Piper PA-46 Malibu, after takeoff from Son Bonet Aerodrome, penetrated the control zone (CTR) of Palma de Mallorca tower. The pilot was instructed to leave the CTR and the aircraft headed towards mountainous terrain to the north of the island where the flight conditions were below the VFR minimum. In level flight the aircraft impacted terrain at an altitude of 2000 ft killing all three occupants.

Synopis

The following is an extract from the official accident Report published by Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (CIAIAC) Spain:

“The weather conditions in Son Bonet were within the limits of Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).

After takeoff from Son Bonet, the aircraft penetrated some miles into the takeoff area of runway 06 L and R at Palma de Mallorca and was urgently requested by Control [tower] to head north and leave the area because at that moment a commercial passenger flight was taking off.

The aircraft’s flight continued five or six minutes in a northerly direction, penetrating a mountainous area on the island […]. That day some of the mountain peaks were covered by clouds.

[…] The aircraft in horizontal flight crashed into a steep SE facing mountain cliff.”

Further in the Flight Preparation section, the Report states:

“Before takeoff, the pilot was informed of the weather conditions at his destination and in two alternated aerodromes but the person who attended him was surprised by his self-reliant attitude and the fact that he did not request information on the departure aerodrome because, as he indicated, he was there and could see the weather.