What happened
On June 18, 2013, a Piper PA-2 and8-161 Warrior II, registration F-GHLY, crashed in the Chies d’Alpago region of Italy. The aircraft was participating in an international aerial tour, flying from Locarno, Switzerland, to Lesce Bled, Slovenia.
While traversing the mountainous terrain of the Val Salatis, the aircraft was attempting to reverse its course. During a steep left-hand turn, the aircraft entered a stall and struck the terrain at an altitude of approximately 1,815 meters. The impact resulted in two fatalities and left the pilot with non-serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight data, aircraft weight, and cockpit dynamics. Analysis of GPS data from a Garmin device recovered from the wreckage revealed that the aircraft entered the valley at approximately 5,495 feet. While the aircraft initially maintained a steady climb, the airspeed began to drop significantly just before the accident.
Investigators determined that the aircraft was operating near its maximum takeoff weight, estimated at approximately 1,094 kg. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's statements, which indicated that the crew was navigating through unfamiliar territory with limited visibility due to clouds covering the mountain peaks. The investigation also noted that the pilot in command (PIC) had relatively limited experience compared to the passenger-pilot, who possessed significant flight hours but lacked English radio proficiency.
Findings
- Loss of control due to an asymmetric stall occurred during an extreme left-hand turn (exceeding 45 degrees) as the crew attempted to avoid a mountain collision.
- Inadequate flight planning meant the crew failed to properly evaluate the terrain or account for the aircraft's performance limitations regarding weight, altitude, and high ambient temperatures.
- Poor cockpit resource management contributed to the accident, as the PIC lacked the assertiveness to challenge the passenger-pilot's assessment that the mountain obstacle could be cleared.
- High aircraft weight and high temperatures likely degraded the engine's climb performance, making the maneuver impossible.