Air Tractor AT-802 I-SPEV accident near Volturara Appula

Incident Overview and Location On 16 September 2015, at approximately 14:52 UTC, an Air Tractor AT-802 “Fire Boss” amphibious aircraft, registration I-SPEV, crashed in a hilly area near the municipality of Volturara Appula in the province of Foggia, Italy. The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 595 meters above mean sea level, in agricultural land surrounded by wooded areas. The aircraft was destroyed, and the sole occupant, the pilot, sustained non-serious injuries. ## Aircraft and Operator The aircraft was operated by AirSP&A srl - Società Aerea Protezione. It was an amphibious version of the Air Tractor AT-802, serial number 802-0307, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F turboprop engine and equipped with a five-blade Hartzell propeller. The aircraft was configured for single-pilot operations and was used for agricultural work and wildfire suppression. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 1,507 flight hours, and its engine had approximately 1,340 hours. ## Flight Details and Sequence of Events The aircraft was engaged in a wildfire suppression mission when the incident occurred. During an attack on the fire front, the pilot lost sight of the ground flames and decided to abort the maneuver. While attempting to escape by entering a valley, the pilot realized the aircraft did not have sufficient energy to continue the maneuver. An emergency release of the payload was performed, but the pilot was unable to maintain flight, lost control of the aircraft, and it impacted the terrain. ## Weather and Environmental Conditions Meteorological data indicated winds from 230/240 degrees with variable intensities. The nearest available METAR from Campobasso Monforte at 14:55 UTC reported clear skies, visibility over 10 km, a QNH of 1017 hPa, a temperature of 27 °C, and winds from 230 degrees at 18 knots with gusts up to 32 knots. Testimonies from the pilot and another aircraft operating in the area estimated winds from 230/240 degrees at 10 to 20 knots with gusts up to 25/30 knots. ## Investigation and Findings The Italian National Agency for the Safety of Flight (ANSV) conducted the safety investigation in accordance with EU Regulation 996/2010 and ICAO Annex 13. The investigation focused on preventing future incidents rather than assigning blame. Medical records were reviewed due to irregularities that appeared to violate EU Regulation 1178/2011 regarding medical certification requirements. The aircraft's documentation was valid, and no significant technical inefficiencies were reported in the days preceding the accident.