What happened
On September 22, 2014, a Diamond DA20-C1, registration OE-ADH, was conducting a training flight consisting of a closed circuit from Rome Urbe. The flight included a planned touch-and-go maneuver at Marina di Campo airport on the island of Elba.
After successfully completing the touch-and-go, the aircraft began a climb toward the north. However, shortly after takeoff, witnesses reported hearing the engine "coughing" or "sputtering," suggesting a loss of power. The crew attempted to execute a left-hand turn to reposition the aircraft for a return to the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft flew at a very low altitude near medium-voltage power lines. An exclamation of distress was heard on the radio at approximately 15:28 UTC, followed by the aircraft impacting the ground in a steep, nose-down attitude. The impact resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the technical state of the engine and the flight dynamics during the final moments. Technical examination of the Continental IO-240 engine revealed no mechanical failures, such as broken components or fuel pump issues, that would have caused an immediate engine seizure. However, investigators noted that the engine's spark plugs showed signs of an overly rich mixture.
Radar plots confirmed the aircraft maintained a steady descent from its previous altitude before the final maneuver. The investigation also examined the aircraft's performance capabilities, noting that while the engine was functional, the crew's decision to attempt a return to the airport—rather than an immediate straight-ahead emergency landing—placed the aircraft in a critical flight regime. The presence of potential tailwinds or rotors near the hills could have further degraded aerodynamic performance.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an aerodynamic loss of control (stall) during the crew's attempt to return to the airport immediately after takeoff.
- A technical issue, characterized by irregular engine operation, acted as the initiating factor, leading to degraded performance and the decision to maneuver.
- The crew's attempt to climb to clear power lines while in a low-speed, critical attitude likely triggered the stall.
- The presence of a tailwind or wind rotors may have contributed to the loss of control.