What happened
On July 12, 2003, at approximately 17:00 UTC, a Partenavia P.57 FACHIRO II, registration I-ALIF, was performing low-altitude flyovers near Caccuri, Italy. The flight was being conducted to drop flower petals over a wedding ceremony taking place in the town square. After completing several passes, the aircraft entered a steep bank during an approach to the town.
During this phase, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control, resulting in an incipient autorotation. The aircraft's flight path changed abruptly, entering a 60-degree dive. The aircraft struck a natural terrace at the edge of a cliff, causing the wings to fragment, before falling approximately 30 meters into the ravine below. The impact resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot.
The investigation
ANSV investigators analyzed flight footage from a camera positioned near the town, which captured the aircraft's final seconds. The footage showed the aircraft at a constant altitude of approximately 50 meters, performing a left turn. As the aircraft passed behind a building, it entered a blind sector, and the subsequent impact was recorded.
Investigators also examined the wreckage and the presence of objects in the flight path. Evidence suggested that several archery arrows were present in the vicinity of the aircraft's trajectory. Specifically, one arrow was observed moving at high speed toward the aircraft's path approximately 1.5 seconds before the crash. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight logs, noting irregularities in the recording of flight hours, though his total experience was estimated at over 558 hours.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a momentary loss of control by the pilot during a rolling pull-out maneuver.
- The maneuver was performed at an altitude significantly lower than the minimums required by ICAO standards for flying over populated areas.
- The pilot was performing an unauthorized activity, as no specific permission had been granted for the dropping of objects from the aircraft.
- Contributing factors included uncoordinated and violent control inputs during the maneuver, localized turbulence, and the potential interference of a passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt.
- The presence of an archery arrow in the aircraft's path may have triggered an instinctive reaction or collision avoidance maneuver by the pilot.