What happened
On February 3, 2002, an SMG-92 “Turbo Finist”, registration HA-YDG, was conducting a local parachute jumping mission operating out of Thiene Airport. After completing several jumps, the aircraft was returning to the airfield. While the flight had initially commenced under visual flight rules (VFR), deteriorating weather conditions brought heavy fog to the area, reducing horizontal visibility to between 100 and 150 meters.
As the pilot attempted to identify the runway through the fog, the aircraft performed several low-altitude passes at approximately 1,000 to 1,100 feet. Although air traffic controllers advised the pilot to divert to Asiago Airport, the pilot elected to continue circling the Thiene area in an attempt to find a visual reference point, citing limited fuel reserves as the reason for not diverting. During a left-hand turn, the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft subsequently entered a stall and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude near a private residence. The crash resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and three serious injuries to the passengers.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight experience, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the fuel consumption patterns, noting that the aircraft was on its third flight of the day without having replenished its fuel supply. The investigation also reviewed communications between the pilot and Thiene Radio, as well as the flight dynamics leading up to the stall and impact.