Piper PA-18-150 I-NENA accident at Cimadolmo

Event overview and location On 15 August 2018, a Piper PA-18-150 with registration I-NENA departed from the Grave di Papadopoli “Campo Jonathan” airfield for a visual flight rules (VFR) pleasure flight. The aircraft carried a pilot and one passenger. During the flight, it contacted a medium-voltage power line near the Piave River in the locality of Cimadolmo (TV) and struck the ground a short distance later, at coordinates 45.776934 N, 12.363984 E. Both occupants were killed, and the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. The Italian National Agency for the Safety of Flight (ANSV) conducted its operational site visit the day after the accident. ## Aircraft and personnel The aircraft was a high-wing, fixed-gear Piper PA-18-150 powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B engine, with a maximum takeoff mass of 794 kg. It was built in 1977, serial number 187709074, and its last annual maintenance was performed on 16 November 2017 by a certified maintenance organization. The pilot was a 47-year-old Italian male holding a valid private pilot licence (PPL(A)) with a single-engine land (SEP(land)) rating and a valid class 2 medical certificate. Records available to ENAC showed that, as of 23 December 2016, the pilot had accumulated 449 hours and 23 minutes of flight time and had flown primarily in the area where the accident occurred. ## Site, weather, and investigation findings The wreckage was found in a flat, accessible area near the Piave River, with vegetation ranging from a few centimeters to about two meters in height. A medium-voltage power line was present near the impact site. The highest of the three cables was found cut, with the break point approximately 143 m from the nearest pylon west of the river. The line from that point to the final impact location indicated a heading of about 308° and a distance of about 72 m. The power-line cables had no markings indicating their presence, as none were required. The accident time was determined from the electrical supply interruption at 18:31 local time. At the site, a linear ground mark oriented about 306° was observed between the power line and the wreckage, along with vegetation showing interference marks, likely associated with the damaged cable. The wreckage was overturned and extensively burned, except for half of the propeller spinner and one propeller blade. The cut medium-voltage cable was found lodged in the right main landing-gear leg. The propeller spinner showed deformation consistent with flexural-torsional loads, and the blades exhibited interference marks consistent with rotation. The engine showed no external anomalies other than those clearly associated with the accident, and no missing parts or fractures were found. The instrument panel was destroyed by fire, rendering its instruments unreadable. All control cables were still continuous. The flaps were unevenly extended, a position reasonably attributable to impact and overturning. No onboard documentation was found, likely destroyed by fire. A large deformation of the tail beam was associated with the rebound from overturning. The wreckage was concentrated at the final stop location, except for non-structural fragments scattered toward the power line; these showed no fire damage and were likely torn off by interference with the cable during dragging. The aircraft was not equipped with FDR/CVR recorders or other flight-recording devices, as none were required. ## Testimony, autopsies, and toxicology ANSV collected testimony indicating that a social gathering had been held at the airfield on the day of the accident. After lunch, around 18:00 local time, the pilot offered flights to attendees. Two people accepted; the first flight ended without incident, while the second ended in the accident. A passenger from the first flight reported that during part of the flight the pilot descended low enough that the ground, objects, and people being overflown were clearly visible. Witnesses described good weather with excellent visibility and calm winds at the time of the accident, and noted that the pilot was accustomed to flying in the area. Autopsies attributed both deaths to multiple trauma from the aircraft accident. The pilot’s autopsy did not reveal any pre-existing conditions that could have affected piloting ability. Toxicological testing indicated that, accounting for coefficient of variation and other variables, the pilot had consumed alcohol at the time of the accident.