Accident Overview
On January 27, 2011, at approximately 13:59 UTC (14:59 local time), a Cessna 172N aircraft, registration I-AMCO, impacted the side of a mountain near Isola Fossara, in the municipality of Scheggia e Pascelupo, Perugia province. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, the only person on board, lost his life.
Flight History
The aircraft departed from Ancona Falconara Airport (LIPY) at 13:37 UTC, bound for Foligno Airport (LIAF). The flight was intended to transfer the recently purchased aircraft from Ancona to Perugia Airport (LIRZ), but due to temporary closure for works, the destination was changed to Foligno. No flight plan was filed, but the pilot notified the Falconara tower controller of a four-hour endurance and his intention to fly to Foligno.
Weather conditions at departure were below Visual Flight Rules (VFR) minima, with visibility reduced to 2500 meters. Nevertheless, the aircraft was cleared for a special VFR departure. The pilot had driven from Umbria to Ancona that morning and had visually confirmed good weather west of the Apennines. The planned route would initially track direct toward Perugia, then turn to Foligno. According to a witness, the pilot intended to return to Ancona if weather conditions deteriorated.
Shortly after takeoff, the tower requested the pilot to report over Jesi, about 13 km southwest of the field. Although the pilot correctly read back the instruction, he did not make the call and proceeded west-southwest, passing about 2 km north of Jesi. At 13:44, the tower instructed the pilot to contact Ancona Approach. The pilot read back the frequency incorrectly; the tower repeated the instruction and requested confirmation. No response was received. Both tower and approach attempted to re-establish radio contact, without success.
Meanwhile, the aircraft climbed to about 2600 feet, then turned north before resuming a west-southwest heading, climbing to about 5000 feet. Around 13:50, the aircraft exited the Ancona control zone. The final portion of the flight involved a descent and impact with terrain.
Wreckage and Impact
The crash site was located on a mountainside northeast of Scheggia e Pascelupo. The aircraft was completely destroyed. Examination of the wreckage revealed a high-energy impact consistent with controlled flight into terrain. No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were identified.
Fuel and Navigation
The aircraft had approximately 140 liters of fuel on board at departure. No navigation aids or GPS data were recovered; the aircraft carried no flight recorders. The pilot held a Private Pilot License (PPL) and a Single Engine Piston (SEP) rating.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather at the time and location of the accident was not explicitly detailed in the report, but the pilot's decision to continue VFR flight in deteriorating conditions was cited as causal.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident resulted from the pilot's decision to continue flight in weather conditions unsuitable for visual flight, leading to impact with terrain.