What happened
On May 12, 2009, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration D-ESTS) was conducting a recreational flight through the Italian Alps. The flight began at Bolzano airport, with scheduled stops at Corvara and Belluno. The pilot then proceeded to the Termon landing strip in the municipality of Campodenno to perform a series of takeoffs and landings.
During the third takeoff attempt from runway 06, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane began to yaw to the right, deviating from the runway centerline and traveling perpendicularly to the takeoff direction. The aircraft eventually exited the grass strip, crossed a dirt road, and impacted an adjacent apple orchard. The impact caused the engine and propeller to strike trees, resulting in the severe deformation of the fuselage and the detachment of a wing.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the control surfaces, steering mechanism, and engine were fully functional at the time of impact. Maintenance records for the Piper PA-18-150 were found to be in compliance with all regulations, and no pre-existing technical failures were identified.
The pilot, an experienced flyer with over 3,500 flight hours, held valid SEP and mountain flying qualifications. While the investigation noted that the required communications for using an occasional landing area had not been performed, the primary focus remained on the physical dynamics of the takeoff. Tire tracks on the grass indicated that the aircraft's path began left of the centerline before veering sharply right toward the orchard.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident is attributed to a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.
- This loss of control may have been triggered by a strong gust of wind from the south/southeast, likely generated by local valley breezes, which may have exceeded the aircraft's crosswind limitations.
- Alternatively, the loss of control may have resulted from inadequate directional control by the pilot, though this is considered less likely given the pilot's extensive experience.
- A contributing factor may have been inadequate flight planning regarding the microclimatic conditions and unpredictable wind patterns characteristic of the mountainous terrain.