What happened
On the afternoon of the incident, an aircraft operating under callsign CAN19 departed from Pescara-Liberi Airport at 17:19 local time. The mission involved aerial firefighting operations within the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park. While the crew was maneuvering toward an active fire zone, the aircraft began a minor right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the upper portion of a hill, leading to its immediate disintegration and a subsequent post-impact fire.
Search efforts located the debris field at an elevation of 1,155 meters in the vicinity of Acciano. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. The captain of the aircraft was killed in the crash, while the copilot sustained significant injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft struck terrain during a flight phase involving low-altitude maneuvering.
- Collision with the top of a hill was the primary event leading to the destruction of the aircraft.