Pilot on trial for the deaths of an eight-year-old girl and a 56-year-old man during a forced landing on the sandy beach of Sao Joao da Caparica after the plane’s engine failed, a new witness has said. The manual for the lightweight Cessna 152 dated August 2, 2017 states that The pilot had no better option for an emergency landing.
This Wednesday, the pilot and flight instructor explained to the panel of judges that there were houses, trees and rocks to the left of the plane, and the sea to the right. He adds that it is always better to land in sand than in water, where the impact is stronger.
The option of landing on Cova do Vapor beach will also not be the best, since the sand is not very long. Carlos Conde de Almeida is charged with two counts of negligent homicide.