On February 20, 2025, a H 36 Dimona (registration I-ILMA) was involved in an aviation accident near Lago di Varese, IT. This summary draws on records from the Italian National Flight Safety Agency (ANSV).
On 20 February 2025, a privately owned H 36 Dimona motor glider, registration I-ILMA, impacted Lake Varese during a recreational flight. The pilot was seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Incident Overview and Location On 20 February 2025, at approximately 12:57 UTC, an H 36 Dimona motor glider with registration I-ILMA impacted the surface of Lake Varese, Italy, near coordinates 45°48’13” N 008°46’06” E. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The incident occurred during a recreational flight, which was the pilot’s fourth of the day. The first three flights were short circuit flights with an instructor aboard, departing from Calcinate del Pesce airport (LILC). The final flight, also from LILC, was conducted solo by the pilot. Approximately two minutes after takeoff, the aircraft struck the lake. ## Aircraft and Engine Details The H 36 Dimona is a motor glider originally built by the Austrian company Hoffmann Flugzeugbau, later Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH. It is certified under JAR-221, approved for VFR flight, and constructed entirely of fiberglass. The aircraft features a 16.0 m wingspan, conventional landing gear, and is powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Limbach L2000 EB1C engine with a variable-pitch propeller. The engine’s cruise regime is 2300–2400 RPM, with maximum power at 3400 RPM, and the propeller rotates counter-clockwise. Fuel consumption is approximately 12 liters per hour. The specific aircraft, serial number 36274, was built in 1988 and had accumulated 1,565 flight hours as of 17 January 2025. The engine, serial number 1498, also built in 1988, had 1,558 hours time since new and 599 hours time since overhaul as of 7 December 2024. Maintenance records were regular, with available work reports extending to 2017. The aircraft was fueled with AVGAS, receiving 30.49 liters on the day of the incident from the airport’s internal fueling station. No other aircraft fueled that day reported engine issues. ## Pilot Information The pilot was 53 years old and held valid SEP and TMG ratings. His flight log showed approximately 113 total hours in single-engine piston aircraft (P92, P2002, C150, C172, P66, PA28) and motor gliders (HB22, SF-25, H36), including about 15 hours on I-ILMA. On the day of the incident, he had completed three flights with an instructor, totaling 20 minutes. His most recent prior flight was on 1 January 2025, with four flights totaling 25 minutes, not as pilot in command. Before that, he flew on 22 July 2024 for 1 hour 06 minutes, also not as PIC. In the year preceding the incident, he had flown approximately 6 hours 49 minutes, including 2 hours 33 minutes as PIC. He also had about 380 hours of sailplane experience. His medical certificate was valid at the time of the incident. ## Wreck and Cockpit Findings The wreck was recovered approximately 24 hours after the incident and stored at Calcinate del Pesce airport. It was heavily damaged, particularly the tail, which was broken. The trim was in a nose-down position, and the rudder showed a left deflection of about 10°. The canopy’s transparent section was broken. Both propeller blades were fractured near the root, though the variable-pitch mechanism remained functional. Cockpit control positions at recovery were: fuel shut-off valve open, trim nose-down, ignition on, main switch on, fuel pump off, throttle at full, and left pedal depressed. The front section of the aircraft, excluding the propeller spinner, blades, and partially open engine cowlings, showed no significant damage. Visual inspection found no damage inside the engine bay. The carburetors were consistent with full throttle. A detailed inspection revealed the throttle cable broken inside its sheath. No other significant deformations or damage were observed in that area. ## Survival and Emergency Response The aircraft’s impact was witnessed by several people, including a group of canoeists and another group on a boat. The canoeists provided initial first aid to the pilot. Fire and rescue services (VVF) and 118 emergency personnel arrived after about 20 minutes and brought the pilot ashore by boat after approximately 30 minutes for hospitalization. ## Power Flarm Investigation The aircraft was not equipped with an ELT but had a Power Flarm device capable of sharing real-time flight tracks with similar devices in flight and on the ground, and recording data to internal memory. The device showed no external mechanical damage, but its connectors exhibited signs of oxidation. Attempts to extract data were unsuccessful, partly due to the device’s nature, as it is not a flight recorder designed to withstand possible consequences.