2004 Beariz accident

The 2004 accident of a firefighting light aircraft in Beariz occurred on 21 July of that same year, when the light aircraft crashed while taking part in extinguishing a forest fire, 300 metres from the air base. The pilot of the light aircraft died in this accident.

The model of the light aircraft was the PZL-M-18-A Dromader.

Accident

At 15:45 local time, as the pilot was returning from refuelling to put out a fire in the Poyo (Pontevedra) area, the light aircraft plunged to the ground on the Portela de la Cruz hill, on the slope facing the village of Doade, thus killing its pilot, who was the only crew member.

Days later, it was ruled out that the cause of the accident was any mechanical failure. It is believed that the accident was due to the fact that "when making the drop at a very low altitude and too close to the head of the fire, the left half-wing of the aircraft, the one closest to the seat of the fire, entered the updraft of the smoke and this caused it to lift. This effect may have been aided by the westerly wind. The sum of both effects may have been relevant to the control of the aircraft. To this must be added a certain surprise on the part of the pilot at the unexpectedness of the situation", according to the report drawn up.