What happened
On March 21, 2013, a Maule MXT-7-180, registration I-GRIM, was performing a recreational flight at Milan Bresso Airport. During the final approach to runway 36, the pilot flew a very low approach path, resulting in a slight collision with bare tree branches located near the runway threshold.
The pilot reported that the impact was so minor that it was barely felt during the flight. Following the landing, the pilot inspected the landing gear for potential damage but did not notice any issues with the wing structure. The damage was not discovered until March 31, 2013, when an airport employee notified the pilot of visible damage to the aircraft's left wing and flap.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on determining the nature of the impact and the extent of the damage. Physical examination of the Maule MXT-7-180 revealed deformations on the leading edge of the left wing and structural failures in the lower skin of the left flap, specifically near the outermost hinge. The pattern of damage indicated that the wing struck a solid object that first deformed the leading edge and then scraped along the underside of the wing before tearing the flap structure.
Investigators inspected the trees located approximately 200 meters from the threshold of runway 36, which range in height from 10 to 15 meters. While these trees are not considered significant obstacles for a standard approach, the investigation could not find definitive physical evidence on the trees to confirm a collision had occurred, partly due to the delay in reporting the incident.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained no injuries and no fatalities.
- The primary cause of the incident was human error related to the flight path during the final approach.
- The delay in reporting the event to the ANSV prevented investigators from establishing with absolute certainty the exact time, location, and specific object struck by the wing.