What happened
On October 11, 2006, an Extra 300L, registration D-ETZE, crashed near the Aquino airport in Castrocielo, Italy, during a practice flight for the 2006 Italian Motorized Aerobatic Championship. The pilot, a member of the Italian national aerobatic team, was performing a complex sequence of maneuvers.
According to witnesses on the ground, the flight proceeded normally through several difficult figures. However, while attempting a rolling maneuver, the aircraft failed to complete the roll, instead transitioning into a level flight at a different heading. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft ceased responding to radio communications from the ground crew. The aircraft entered a steep, ballistic dive, descending to an altitude of approximately 50 to 70 meters before impacting an agricultural field at a high angle of approximately 70 degrees. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's medical and flight records, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators analyzed the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure or technical issues that could have caused the loss of control. While a temporary repair to the canopy had been performed following a previous competition, the manufacturer had deemed the repair acceptable until the next scheduled maintenance.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed a pre-existing ischemic heart condition, including damage to the left ventricle, which was not known to the pilot. The investigation also noted that the pilot had undergone a long and taxing day, involving significant driving and flying prior to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a valid state of airworthiness and had undergone all required periodic inspections.
- There were no technical or mechanical failures identified as a cause for the accident.
- The pilot was highly experienced and held all necessary licenses and medical certifications.
- A pre-existing cardiac pathology in the pilot may have caused a sudden medical event, leading to the loss of control.
- Physical and mental fatigue, resulting from a long day of travel and flight, likely acted as a latent risk factor.
Safety action
- The ANSV issued a safety recommendation to the Aero Club d'Italia to update national aerobatic competition regulations. The recommendation specifies that organizers should explicitly require participants to present updated airworthiness documentation, aligning national standards with the requirements set by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).