Accident investigators to publish sala crash report

You're referring to the Sala plane crash report!

Yes, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in the UK has published its report on the investigation into the tragic crash of the Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft that killed Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson on January 21, 2019.

The report, which was released on July 18, 2020, provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the crash, the investigation process, and the findings. Here are some key points from the report:

  1. Weather conditions: The report highlights that the weather conditions on the day of the crash were poor, with strong winds, turbulence, and low visibility. The pilot, David Ibbotson, was not experienced in flying in such conditions.
  2. Pilot error: The investigation found that the pilot's decision to fly the plane in such conditions was a contributing factor to the crash. The report states that Ibbotson's lack of experience and inadequate training in instrument flying (flying by instruments only) led to a loss of control of the aircraft.
  3. Aircraft performance: The report notes that the Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft was not designed for flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and its performance was compromised in the poor weather conditions.
  4. Communication issues: The investigation found that there were communication issues between the pilot and air traffic control, which may have contributed to the pilot's decision to continue flying in the poor weather conditions.
  5. No distress call: The report notes that there was no distress call from the pilot before the crash, which suggests that the pilot may not have realized the gravity of the situation until it was too late.

The report concludes that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's loss of control of the aircraft due to his inadequate training and experience in instrument flying, combined with the poor weather conditions.

The Sala family and the football community have been affected by this tragic event, and the report's findings will help to inform improvements in aviation safety and pilot training.