What happened
On November 1, 2019, a Reims/Cessna FA150L, registration I-FFSQ, departed from the Monti della Tolfa airpark for a local VFR recreational flight. During the final approach for landing at runway 12, the aircraft struck the shield wire of a high-voltage power line. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, dragging along the wires before striking a lower-voltage medium-tension line, which severed one of its conductors. The aircraft then plummeted in a near-vertical descent into an agricultural field, where it caught fire upon impact. The pilot and the passenger both sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the flight path, the condition of the aircraft, and the surrounding infrastructure. Investigators examined the wreckage and the nearby electrical lines, noting that the high-voltage tower was positioned approximately 250 meters from the runway threshold. Evidence on the shield wire, including traces of white, yellow, and green paint matching the aircraft, confirmed the collision.
Witness testimony from another pilot at the airpark indicated that while the engine appeared to be running normally, the aircraft was flying significantly lower than the recommended 700-foot altitude for that specific approach segment. The investigation also noted discrepancies between the official ENAC database and the actual physical characteristics of the airpark, specifically regarding runway length and the presence of obstacles. Following the accident, the airpark underwent runway extensions and threshold displacements to improve obstacle clearance.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact of the aircraft with the high-voltage power line shield wire during the landing phase.
- The aircraft was flying at an altitude lower than the recommended safety margin for the approach.
- While weather conditions were generally favorable for VFR flight, investigators could not rule out the possibility of carburetor icing, which might have caused a sudden degradation in engine performance and influenced the pilot's ability to maintain an optimal altitude.
- The aircraft's maintenance records and airworthiness documentation were found to be in order.