What happened
On January 11, 2007, a Reims Aviation Cessna FR 172J, registration I-CEND, crashed near the Eremo della Giubiliana airstrip in the province of Ragusa, Italy. The flight, a private recreational mission, departed from Palermo Bocca di Falco with three occupants: the pilot and two passengers.
During the approach to runway 07, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. Shortly after the decision to abort the landing, the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the ground approximately 700 meters southeast of the airstrip. The impact was characterized by a high angle of incidence and a left wing bank, after which the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed. All three occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, meteorological data, and witness testimonies. The investigation established that the aircraft was well-maintained, with its most recent 50-hour inspection completed only 17 hours prior to the accident. The engine was functioning at the time of impact, as evidenced by the deformation of the propeller.
Investigators analyzed the flight dynamics, noting that the aircraft was operating at a high mass due to a near-maximum fuel load of 195 liters. Meteorological data indicated clear skies but significant wind conditions, with a tailwind and crosswind component. A witness on the ground observed the aircraft performing a right-hand turn during the go-around, noting an increase in engine RPM followed by a sudden loss of altitude and a subsequent vertical impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight induced by an aerodynamic stall occurring at a very low altitude.
- The pilot's execution of the go-around was inadequate, particularly regarding the sequence of actions and the management of airspeed and power.
- The aircraft was likely operating in a critical aerodynamic regime where available power was insufficient to maintain airspeed during the turn.
- Environmental factors, specifically a significant tailwind and crosswind, complicated the approach and the subsequent maneuver.
- The aircraft's high mass, resulting from the heavy fuel load, reduced the margin for error during the low-altitude maneuver.
- The pilot had failed to follow local procedures, which required requesting landing authorization and receiving a briefing from the airstrip operators prior to arrival.
- Discrepancies were noted regarding the pilot's medical certification, specifically a missing required electrocardiogram.