Background
The aircraft, a Cessna 172SP (registration D-EGTB, serial number 172S9149, built 2009), was operated by Luftsportclub Arnsberg e.V. of Germany. It was on a VFR tourist flight from Marina di Campo (LIRJ) to Salerno (LIRI) with one pilot and one passenger onboard. The pilot, a 72-year-old German male, held a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) with SEP (land) and English radiotelephony (level 5) ratings, and a Class 2 medical certificate with VML limitation. He had 368 total flight hours, 279 of which on the Cessna 172.
During the flight, while near waypoint RAVAL, the pilot noticed an unusual decrease in fuel level. He began heading towards the coastline as a precaution, suspecting a fuel leak. Subsequently, the aircraft experienced a total electrical failure. Using his portable Garmin GPSMAP 495, the pilot navigated to Rome Fiumicino Airport (LIRF) and decided to make a precautionary landing, despite such traffic being normally prohibited at that airport.
The Incident
As the aircraft approached the airport, the pilot flew a left downwind for runway 25. Runway 25 was closed to landings by NOTAM 1A3156LI (valid 19 May to 12 August 2015) but could be made available with 30 minutes' notice. However, no light signals were observed from the control tower. The pilot landed on runway 25 around 15:30 UTC. During the landing, the aircraft overflew a ground vehicle conducting an inspection on runway 07/25, which was moving towards the threshold of runway 25.
Communications
Roma Flight Information Centre (FIC) had been in contact with D-EGTB earlier. At 14:45:36, the pilot reported at 5,000 feet en route from Marina di Campo to Salerno. Roma FIC instructed to report at waypoint GILIO. At 14:48:17, the pilot relayed his planned routing via MEDAL, ELVIN, PNZ, then direct to Salerno. Roma FIC asked to proceed via RAVAL and TORLI at 1,000 feet, which the pilot acknowledged but stated he would maintain his flight plan route. At 14:51:20, the pilot reported passing GILIO at 3,400 feet and also relayed the position of another aircraft, D-EMCP. Subsequently, Roma FIC made several calls to D-EGTB between 14:52:33 and 14:54:49 without response. At 14:55:04, D-EMCP informed Roma FIC that D-EGTB could not hear them.
Aftermath
The aircraft was towed to parking. After four days, a maintenance inspection was performed, and the aircraft then departed for Germany without further issues. No damage to the aircraft or other property was reported. The weather at the time was good with no significant phenomena.