Piper PA-28R-201 D-EBAK accident at Monte Serra, Italy

Overview and Event Description On 10 January 2004, a Piper PA-28R-201 with registration D-EBAK departed Lucca Tassignano Airport at 11:49 UTC (12:49 local time) on runway 10, bound for Salerno. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff into the rugged terrain of Monte Serra, in the locality of Ruota (Lucca), and caught fire. Both persons on board, the pilot and one passenger, were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. Limited damage to vegetation resulted from the post-impact fire. ## Aircraft and Personnel The aircraft was a single-engine, low-wing, all-metal Piper PA-28R-201 with a tricycle retractable landing gear, powered by a Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 engine. It was certified for four seats in the normal category for tourism and training, with a maximum takeoff mass of 1,247 kg. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid. The pilot was a 49-year-old Italian male holding a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)), a single-engine piston (land) rating, and a valid Class 2 medical certificate requiring corrective lenses in flight. The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered, likely destroyed in the fire. Based on other documentation, the pilot had at least approximately 450 hours of flight time, including about 90 hours in the D-EBAK from Lucca Tassignano during 2003 and early 2004. ## Weather and Operational Context No METAR was available for Lucca Tassignano. The METAR from Pisa S. Giusto, approximately 20 km away, reported fog, broken clouds at 100 feet, and a QNH of 1012 hPa. The airport operator stated that conditions at Lucca Tassignano included calm winds, a QNH of 1013 hPa, and estimated visibility along the departure direction of at least 1,600 m. An ENAC communication to ANSV noted that weather conditions in the accident area were unfavorable due to dense fog over areas beyond the end of the runway. The pilot had filed a VFR flight plan from Lucca to Salerno with a declared endurance of 5 hours. The aircraft was fueled with 120 liters of AVGAS 100 LL before departure. ## Investigation Findings The wreckage was found in a mountainous area at the base of a tall tree, destroyed and partially burned by the post-impact fire. A portion of a wing tip was found approximately 400 meters away near a tree with upper branches severed by the impact. The engine was examined by a certified company. Visual inspection showed fire damage that had melted the oil pan, fuel system, and partially cylinder number 4, the rocker box, and related accessories. Due to the seizure of the crankshaft, the number 4 connecting rod had to be cut to open the crankcase. A complete disassembly and cleaning of the engine revealed no anomalies other than those related to the fire and normal operational wear. Dimensional checks of the cylinders and inspection of the fuel manifold also showed no anomalies. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence of abnormal engine operation. A fuel sample taken from the airport's tank the day after the accident was found to meet the specifications for 100 LL aviation gasoline, except for a small amount of free water that may have resulted from sampling in an unconditioned container.