What happened
On June 6, 2011, at approximately 15:55 UTC, a Tecnam P2002-JF, registration I-LICC, crashed into the sea off the coast of the Santa Maria la Scala harbor in Sicily. The aircraft, operated by Aero Club Catania, was conducting a flight training mission at the time of the accident. The aircraft was occupied by a single occupant, an 18-year-old student pilot. The impact resulted in the fatal injury of the student pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators recovered the wreckage from shallow waters, approximately 100 meters deep, along with various fragments scattered within a 100-meter radius of the main debris. Examination of the recovered components revealed that the aircraft struck the water at a high angle of descent and with a left-wing bank, while still maintaining significant forward translational motion. Technical analysis of the wreckage allowed investigators to rule out structural failure, flight control malfunctions, or engine failure as contributing factors to the crash.
Findings
The investigation established that the aircraft's propulsion system and airframe remained intact until impact. While no specific mechanical or structural causes were identified, the investigation focused on the human factors related to the student pilot's flight activity and level of preparation. Meteorological conditions at Catania Fontanarossa airport at the time of the event were reported as having 8,000 meters of visibility and a 12-knot NNE wind.