What happened
On June 1, 2008, a Procaer F.15A “Picchio”, registration I-ARWI, crashed in the vicinity of Passo della Borcola, near Terragnolo, Italy. The aircraft had departed from Trento Mattarello airport at 15:50 local time for a VFR flight to Venice Lido, carrying one pilot and three passengers.
Approximately ten minutes into the flight, while navigating the Gulva Valley, the aircraft struck heavily forested terrain at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters. The impact resulted in the four fatalities of everyone on board, and the aircraft was destroyed by the collision and a subsequent post-impact fire.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the flight path, aircraft performance, and meteorological conditions. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft flying through the valley and noted that it was at a low altitude. The investigation focused on the aircraft's ability to clear the terrain at Passo della Borcola, which requires a minimum safety altitude of 1,507 meters.
Technical analysis of the aircraft's weight and balance revealed that the takeoff mass exceeded the maximum allowable limit, and while the center of gravity was within limits, it was positioned very close to the aft limit. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting that while the pilot was experienced on this specific type, there was no documented specialized experience in mountain flying. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were reported as good, with high visibility and no significant weather obstructions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control during a steep turn in an attempt to reverse course, which induced an aerodynamic stall.
- The low altitude of the aircraft at the time of the maneuver left no margin for recovery.
- The aircraft was operating at a weight exceeding its maximum takeoff mass.
- Inadequate flight planning failed to account for the specific orographic challenges of the route and the required climb gradients.
- The pilot did not utilize the aircraft's best performance speeds during the flight.
- The combination of excessive weight and an aft center of gravity likely degraded the aircraft's maneuverability.