Incident Description
On June 2, 2018, at approximately 08:25 UTC (10:25 local time), a Cessna 152 registration I-SVFG crashed in a valley near Malga Casarine, close to Monte Croce in Trentino province. The aircraft had departed from Bolzano Airport at about 08:05 UTC on a training flight with an instructor and a student on board. After about 30 minutes of flight, the aircraft impacted terrain. The instructor died and the student sustained serious injuries.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 152, a two-seat, high-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine, with a maximum take-off mass of 757 kg. It was operated by Aero Club Bolzano and was on a training flight. The aircraft was not equipped with flight data recording devices. On the day of the accident, it had been fueled with 50 liters of fuel.
The instructor, a 69-year-old male of Italian nationality, held a valid Airline Transport Pilot License with valid ratings including Instructor (FI) and had accumulated over 1,600 flight hours in the last ten years, including many hours on the accident aircraft. In the six months prior to the accident, he had logged about 18 flight hours, over 16 of which on I-SVFG. His medical certificate was valid with a limitation requiring corrective lenses.
The student, a 29-year-old female of Italian nationality, held a solo flight authorization issued by Aero Club Bolzano and a valid Class 2 medical certificate. She had 26 total flight hours, all on I-SVFG, in pursuit of a Private Pilot License.
Accident Site and Wreckage
The impact occurred in a relatively flat area within a valley surrounded by mountain ridges with altitudes between approximately 2,100 and 2,300 meters. The wreckage showed extensive damage: the tail section was separated from the fuselage, both wings were deformed, and the propeller blades exhibited rotational damage and scratches. The aircraft had struck a tree located about 5 meters from the main wreckage at an estimated height of 4 meters, shearing off a 2-meter section of the trunk, which was found near the aircraft. Surrounding vegetation was otherwise undamaged. The ELT was heard activated. The right aileron was deflected upwards about 10 degrees; flaps were neutral. Control cables were continuous and tensioned.
Investigation Findings
Autopsy results determined that the instructor's death was due to trauma from the impact. However, further investigation revealed that the instructor had a medical condition that could potentially cause sudden illness with possible loss of consciousness. The autopsy report concluded that this pathology "could have played a causal role on the subject's performance capabilities and therefore on the determination of the accident."
The investigation did not find any pre-existing mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. The fuel system had about 7.5 liters of fuel drained from the left wing tank; the right tank was damaged and had leaked fuel. Weather conditions at nearby airports were reported as good visibility with few clouds.