Event Description
On 15 July 2017 at approximately 08:00 UTC, a Cessna A185F, registration F-BXSG, departed from the “Porta della Maremma” aerodrome near Cecina, Italy, with five persons on board for a parachute jumping flight. Shortly after rotation, the engine experienced a sudden power loss followed by an engine shutdown. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground near the aerodrome.
Injuries
The pilot sustained serious injuries. The two tandem pilots and two tandem passengers received minor traumas and injuries during the impact.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna A185F is a single-engine, high-wing, fixed-gear aircraft with metal construction. It is equipped with a Continental IO-520-D engine (300 hp maximum) driving a three-blade variable-pitch propeller. The aircraft had been configured for parachute transport: all cabin seats except the pilot’s were removed, creating a flat floor for four parachutists, and the right-side control wheel and column were removed. The aircraft was owned by Abeille Parachutisme (France) and had been leased to ASD Skydive Kalifornia (Italy) under an aircraft lease contract valid from 1 to 30 June 2017; the accident occurred after the contract expiry date. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had an estimated 7,430 flight hours; the engine had accumulated about 1,320 hours since its last overhaul. Maintenance documentation was found to be in compliance with applicable technical regulations.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 54-year-old Italian male, held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) with endorsements for Pilatus PC6, single-engine piston land, and parachuting. His medical certificate (Class 2/LAPL) was valid with limitations (VDL and TML). His exact total flight hours and time on type could not be reliably determined, but documentation suggested he had flown approximately 40 hours on F-BXSG before the accident.
Accident Site and Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was located approximately 190 meters northwest of the “Porta della Maremma” aerodrome, at an altitude of about 9 feet (coordinates 43°17’23.13”N 010°30’55.49”E). The terrain is flat agricultural land. Impact marks indicated heavy ground contact about 13 meters from a canal bank, with a magnetic heading of approximately 260°. The aircraft did not catch fire after impact. The forward section (cockpit, instrument panel, central fuselage structure) sustained severe damage from heavy contact with the ground and subsequent overturning, but the cockpit remained accessible for inspection. The instrument panel had minor structural deformation but was largely intact. The ignition key was found in the “BOTH” position. The throttle lever was at “FULL OPEN,” propeller lever at “INCREASE RPM,” and mixture lever was bent and slightly aft. The master switch was “OFF.” The auxiliary fuel pump switches (labeled “high” and “low”) were both found in the “OFF” position; the “high” switch was found behind the panel. The fuel selector was in the “OFF” position with its indicator lever broken. The fuel shut-off lever was not actuated. The wings and control surfaces were substantially intact.
Meteorological Information
METAR reports from the nearest airports (Pisa, about 44 km away, and Grosseto, about 74 km away) between 06:55 and 08:15 UTC indicated no critical aviation weather phenomena. Wind was variable at about 5 knots, temperature about 27°C, relative humidity about 53%, visibility greater than 10 km.
Additional Findings
No third-party damage was reported.