What happened
On August 6, 2019, at approximately 14:57 UTC, a Diamond DA20-A1 aircraft, registration I-GVBU, crashed into the ridge of Monte Carmo di Loano in the province of Savona, Italy. The flight was a visual flight rules (VFR) mission originating from Vercelli, intended for a touch-and-go maneuver at Albenga before returning. While traversing the Ligurian Alps along the Ceva-Ceriale axis, the aircraft struck the terrain at an altitude of approximately 1,280 meters (4,200 feet), just below the mountain crest. The impact was a high-energy event that resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation established that the aircraft was in a condition of airworthiness and that all maintenance requirements had been met. Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine was producing power and the propeller was at high RPM at the moment of impact. The fuel tanks contained fuel, and the flaps were set in the takeoff position.
Investigators found that the pilot in command had a valid commercial license but had limited experience specifically on the DA20 model. The passenger, also a pilot, had significant flight experience. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was flying without a filed flight plan. Because no flight plan was active, the search and rescue phase (DETRESFA) was not initiated until approximately 17:08 UTC, after the Aero Club of Novara expressed concerns regarding the aircraft's disappearance based on GPS tracker data.
Findings
- Inadequate separation from terrain during navigation.
- Marginal meteorological conditions, characterized by clouds and fog, which made safe VFR navigation through mountainous terrain impossible.
- Failure to adhere to VFR regulations regarding horizontal visibility, cloud clearance, and minimum safety altitudes.
- Inadequate decision-making, which led the crew to continue the flight toward Albenga despite weather conditions that were incompatible with VFR flight.
- A potential sense of false security potentially caused by the use of VFR navigation software, which may have focused the crew on geographical positioning rather than obstacle clearance.
- Lack of reliable, updated meteorological information for the specific area of the Ligurian Alps at the time of the flight.