What happened
On June 2, 2018, a Cessna 152, registration I-SVFG, departed from Bolzano airport for a flight training session. The aircraft was occupied by an instructor and a student pilot. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight, the aircraft crashed into a valley in the Malga Casarine area, near Monte Croce, in the province of Trento.
The impact resulted in the death of the instructor and serious injuries to the student pilot. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, with significant damage to the tail section, wings, and propeller.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight planning, the aircraft's technical condition, and the environmental factors at the time of the accident. The investigation found that the flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with minimal planning; the crew had not performed a detailed analysis of the route or the aircraft's performance relative to the high temperatures and terrain. The flight was conducted without the use of maps or navigational aids.
Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude. One witness noted the aircraft was flying in a straight line, while another observed the aircraft performing turns that appeared to involve a loss of altitude. The student pilot reported that during the final stages of the flight, the instructor attempted a sudden pitch-up maneuver to clear an obstacle, which caused the airspeed to drop to approximately 40 knots, triggering the stall warning.
Medical examinations of the instructor revealed a pre-existing pathology that could cause sudden loss of consciousness. The student pilot also noted that the instructor had appeared to briefly fall asleep earlier in the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control in flight induced by an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude, which was unrecoverable due to the proximity to the terrain.
- Inadequate flight planning regarding both the intended route and the aircraft's performance capabilities.
- Inadequate flight management, leading to operations at altitudes and performance levels incompatible with VFR requirements.
- A potential contributing factor was the instructor's medical condition, which may have compromised his situational awareness and decision-making capabilities.