What happened
On May 25, 2020, a Diamond DA20-C1, registration I-DADL, was conducting a routine flight training mission at Rome Urbe Airport (LIRU). The flight, operated by a flight school, involved an instructor and a student pilot performing circuit patterns and touch-and-go maneuvers.
Following the completion of a second circuit, the aircraft attempted a touch-and-go maneuver. During the subsequent climb, the aircraft entered a critical state and crashed into the Tiber River, where it sank to a depth of approximately 7 meters. The instructor managed to escape the wreckage and reach the riverbank with serious injuries, but the student pilot, who remained restrained in his seat, was killed.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the aircraft's performance and the crew's actions during the critical climb phase. Investigators examined the aircraft's engine performance, specifically looking at the availability of power and the configuration of the flaps. The investigation also reviewed the flight manual's emergency procedures for engine failure after takeoff and insufficient engine power.
Technical analysis of the wreckage and flight data suggested the aircraft impacted the water in a nose-low attitude with a high vertical velocity. Investigators also considered the environmental conditions, noting a 10-knot wind and a temperature of 27°C, as well as the instructor's physiological state following a long journey prior to the flight.