What happened
On May 17, 2002, a Piper PA-28-161, registration I-TVMA, departed from Treviso S. Angelo airport for a planned VFR flight to Klagenfurt, Austria. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two experienced passengers, both of whom were also pilots. After departing at 08:02 local time, the aircraft followed its planned route through Vittorio Veneto and toward Lake Santa Croce.
At approximately 10:30 local time, a witness observed the aircraft flying at an extremely low altitude along the entrance of the Val Salatis. The aircraft subsequently struck a rocky mountainside in the Val Salatis area, near the border of the Belluno and Pordenone provinces. The impact caused the aircraft to be destroyed and a post-impact fire occurred. All three occupants were killed.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and environmental conditions. The investigation established that the aircraft was airworthy and had undergone regular maintenance. While worn spark plugs were noted during a subsequent engine teardown, they were functional during testing.
Investigators analyzed the aircraft's performance, noting that the climb rate was significantly lower than expected. Based on the weight, temperature, and altitude, the expected climb rate was approximately 340 feet per minute, but the actual rate was measured at only 189 feet per minute. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control due to an asymmetric stall induced by an excessively steep left turn.
- The pilot failed to maintain adequate terrain separation while flying in a narrow valley with steep slopes.
- There was a deviation from the planned flight route, which may have been due to a navigational error or an intentional change in course.
- The pilot overestimated the aircraft's climbing performance, failing to recognize that the climb rate was insufficient to clear the surrounding mountains.
- Decision-making was inadequate, as the pilot delayed the decision to reverse course.
- Environmental factors, including potential valley winds and developing cloud cover, may have contributed to the difficulty of the flight.