What happened
On July 28, 2021, at approximately 13:00 UTC, a B&F Technik FK14 Polaris, registration D-MMLM, crashed in the municipality of Corropoli, Italy. The aircraft had departed from the Caltabiano airstrip for a recreational VFR flight, bound for the Val Vibrata airstrip.
During the final approach to runway 32, the aircraft impacted the ground approximately 165 meters southeast of the runway threshold in an agricultural field. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and left the passenger with serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the wreckage, the flight documentation, and witness testimony. Investigators noted that the aircraft's ballistic parachute (BRS) had not been deployed by the pilot prior to impact; it likely activated due to the force of the crash itself.
Technical examination of the wreckage showed that the flight controls were functional and the engine appeared structurally intact, with damage consistent with a ground impact. While the Dynon SkyView avionics unit was recovered for data analysis, the memory module was too damaged to retrieve flight data.
Regarding documentation, the aircraft was operating under a German "permit to fly" which required prior authorization from foreign authorities for flights outside German airspace. No evidence was found that the pilot had requested permission to operate in Italy. Additionally, the pilot's flight log indicated approximately 50 flight hours at the time of the accident.