What happened
On July 21, 2002, at approximately 16:30 local time, an amateur-built Midget Mustang M-1, registration I-ILDA, crashed in the vicinity of Musin, in the municipality of Quittengo (Biella). The aircraft was performing a flight test as part of the process to obtain a special airworthiness certificate for amateur-built aircraft.
The pilot departed from Biella airport at 14:03 UTC, initially flying north toward the Bielmonte area. During the flight, the pilot maintained radio contact with the Biella Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS), reporting altitudes between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. At 14:28, the pilot indicated an intention to return to the airport within five minutes. This was the final communication received.
Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft flying at an extremely low altitude, estimated between 20 and 30 meters, before it disappeared into dense fog covering the mountain peaks. Shortly thereafter, the sound of a high-speed impact was heard. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and the pilot was killed.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight history, the technical state of the aircraft, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the wreckage, which was found on a rocky area at an altitude of approximately 1,600 meters. The wreckage showed the engine was at full power and the airspeed was high at the time of impact.
Technical analysis of the Midget Mustang M-1 revealed no mechanical failures or technical issues that could have contributed to the accident. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting he was a qualified pilot with sufficient experience for amateur-built aircraft operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
- The pilot failed to adhere to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) during the final phase of the flight by entering cloud formations that severely restricted visibility.
- The flight planning for the return leg was inadequate, as it did not sufficiently account for the mountainous terrain and the local orographic features.
- Extremely low visibility due to low-hanging clouds in the mountain area contributed significantly to the accident.