What happened
On September 24, 2010, at 18:07 UTC, an Airbus A319, registration EI-EDM, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Rome Fiumicino to Palermo Punta Raisi. During the final approach to runway 07, the aircraft encountered intense rainfall which significantly reduced visibility. As the aircraft completed its landing maneuver, it struck an embankment located immediately before the runway threshold. The impact caused several injuries to passengers and crew members, and the aircraft sustained damage so severe that it was deemed a total economic loss.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight sequence, meteorological conditions, and the effectiveness of the airport's emergency response. Investigators analyzed the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) to reconstruct the approach. The inquiry also scrutinized the aeronautical charts used by the crew, the functionality of the runway threshold lights (SLTH), and the coordination between various emergency services during the implementation of the Airport Emergency Plan (PEA).
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the lack of explicit "DME required" notation on the VOR-Z RWY 007 approach chart, which failed to alert pilots to the necessity of using Distance Measuring Equipment for the procedure.
- Heavy precipitation at the time of the accident significantly degraded visibility.
- There were critical failures in the execution of the Airport Emergency Plan, including delays in rescue operations and passenger assistance due to coordination issues.
- Emergency responders, specifically the fire service, experienced difficulty locating the aircraft due to a lack of familiarity with standard aeronautical terminology.
- Communication between the Palermo Tower and fire services was unreliable due to poor radio signal quality on the UHF frequency.
- There was evidence that runway threshold lights may have been obscured by water accumulation caused by inadequate drainage on the runway 07/25 approach area.