Flight Information
On 31 May 2024, a group of 39 aircraft departed from Fondone airfield in the Lecce province, Italy, for Hvar Airport (LDSH) on the island of Hvar, Croatia. The aircraft were organized into eight formations of four to six aircraft each. The accident aircraft was part of the sixth formation and had a French registration F-JVZK. The flight was conducted under VFR rules. The lead pilot of the group, a Belgian national with instructor and examiner ratings, began landing around 13:00 local time. Aircraft landed with 10-15 minute intervals between formations and 2-3 minute intervals between individual aircraft. After 33 aircraft had landed normally, the accident aircraft, on its final approach, veered left from the runway 10 heading. It struck the ground and came to rest on a gravel road parallel to the runway.
Injuries and Damage
The accident resulted in injuries to four persons: one bicyclist sustained serious injuries, two pedestrians sustained minor injuries, and the passenger on board the aircraft sustained minor injuries. The pilot, a French national, was uninjured. The aircraft, a JMB Aircraft VL-3 (serial number 42OM, registration F-JVZK), was substantially damaged. Structural elements of the fuselage and wings were fractured, the landing gear and propeller were broken, and the fuel tank was punctured. The fuselage was completely fractured near the tail section. The right wing sustained serious damage, including deformation of the leading edge. A puncture on the right side of the fuselage behind the engine was caused by impact with a metal fence post, which also ruptured fuel system components. The left main wheel was sheared off, the right main wheel and nose gear were forced into the fuselage. Both propeller blades were broken off. The canopy, other transparent surfaces, and instrument panel appeared undamaged. Damage also occurred to the grass alongside the runway.
Cause
The cause of the accident was a loss of control during final approach.