What happened
On February 11, 2020, at approximately 08:40 UTC, a Tecnam P2002 Sierra Deluxe, registration I-B276, crashed near Argelato, Italy. The aircraft had departed from the Reno Air Club airpark for a local flight intended to test the functionality of an avionics component, specifically the transponder. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft impacted the ground on the embankment of the Reno River, adjacent to a secondary road, and subsequently caught fire. The pilot, a 23-year-old male, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the wreckage, which was found concentrated in a single area, suggesting no structural failure occurred in flight. While the intense post-impact fire destroyed much of the cockpit, instrument panel, and fuselage, investigators were able to inspect the engine and propeller. The engine appeared structurally sound, though the fire had damaged the ignition components and carburet and caused the engine's bearing to seize due to extreme heat.
Witnesses provided critical context: one observer noted the aircraft was flying at a low altitude (between 30 and 50 meters) before suddenly pitching downward into a dive. Another witness, a local airfield manager, suggested the aircraft may have been performing a turn to return to the airfield when it entered a spin. The investigation also noted that a variable-pitch propeller had been installed on the aircraft, a modification that had not been officially communicated to the relevant aviation authorities, potentially increasing the aircraft's empty weight by approximately 10 kg.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an asymmetric stall that led to a loss of control in flight.
- The stall was unrecoverable due to the extremely low altitude of the aircraft at the time of the maneuver.
- The pilot likely attempted to turn back toward the airfield shortly after takeoff, leading to a degradation of aerodynamic performance.
- The pilot did not deploy the onboard ballistic parachute, likely due to the insufficient altitude or high task saturation during the rapid onset of the emergency.
- Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable and did not contribute to the event.