What happened
On December 8, 2010, a Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC, registration N58SE, departed from Rome Urbe Airport (LIRU) for a planned VFR flight to Lake Bolsena. The aircraft was operated by a single pilot. Immediately following takeoff from runway 34, the aircraft began a gradual leftward deviation from its flight path. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of approximately 40 meters before descending into the roof of an industrial warehouse used as a bus depot for the ATAC agency in Grottemberga-Roma.
The impact triggered an intense fire that almost entirely destroyed the aircraft and damaged parts of the warehouse structure, including two parked buses. The pilot was found deceased within the wreckage.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, the pilot's medical and flight credentials, and the wreckage. Investigators analyzed radio communications, which showed the pilot maintained regular contact with the tower until after takeoff authorization. Witness statements indicated the engine appeared to be operating at high power and at a regular rhythm without sudden changes in sound or trajectory prior to impact.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the landing gear was still extended and locked at the time of impact. While the aircraft had undergone turbocharger replacements earlier in 2010, no engine malfunctions were identified; evidence of proper combustion and the lack of power-loss recovery attempts suggested the engine was functioning normally. The investigation also considered the possibility of pilot incapacitation or flight control failure, though the intense post-impact fire prevented a definitive assessment of the aircraft's internal systems.
Findings
- The weather conditions were suitable for VFR flight.
- The aircraft was properly equipped and maintained, with the landing gear in the extended position during impact.
- The engine was operating normally at high power at the time of the accident.
- The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty due to the extensive destruction of the wreckage by fire.
- While the pilot held a valid PPL, his medical certificate was issued by the FAA and did not comply with JAR-FCL Part 3 requirements.
- The autopsy results were inconclusive, though they suggested the possibility of a natural death in flight, though impact-related death could not be ruled out.