What happened
On March 31, 2019, a Zlin Aviation Outback Shock, registration I-C7CO, was engaged in a recreational flight near Torgnon, in the Aosta Valley. After departing from the Chamois airstrip, the aircraft flew toward the Torgnon ski area. The pilot intended to perform a maneuver to drop confetti over a group of children from a local ski club gathered at a restaurant patio in the Chantorné hamlet.
During the maneuver, the aircraft performed a pitch-up movement followed by a turn. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft enter a spin before disappearing from view. The aircraft subsequently struck a steep, wooded slope and came to rest against a pine tree. The impact resulted in one fatality, the pilot, while the passenger sustained injuries but managed to exit the wreckage on his own.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the wreckage, the aircraft's configuration, and witness testimonies. Investigators found that the aircraft's engine was functioning normally at the time of impact. However, the aircraft's configuration had been altered from its original specifications: the slats had been removed, and skis had been installed for snow operations. While the manufacturer noted that flying without slats is not prohibited, it is not recommended because slats significantly reduce the risk of an accidental stall and spin.
Witnesses and the surviving passenger described a sequence where the aircraft became suddenly light and entered a spin following the deployment and retraction of flaps. The investigation also noted that the activity being performed—dropping objects from an aircraft over a gathering of people—is prohibited under Italian recreational flight regulations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight during a low-altitude maneuver, likely triggered by an asymmetric stall and subsequent left-hand spin that could not be recovered due to insufficient altitude.
- The aircraft's configuration, featuring removed slats and the addition of skis, increased the total mass and decreased aerodynamic performance.
- The pilot's attempt to perform a prohibited activity (dropping confetti over a crowd) led to a low-altitude flight path and maneuvers that exceeded the aircraft's safe flight envelope.