Event
On March 2, 2011, at 01:23 UTC, a Cessna 550 registered S5-BAX was conducting a takeoff on runway 12 at Forlì Airport (LIPK) in Italy. The aircraft was being operated by GIO Business Aviation (Slovenia) on an ambulance flight transporting organs, with two pilots and a nurse aboard. As the aircraft reached a speed near rotation, it exited the left side of the runway and traveled approximately 150 meters across the snow-covered strip before coming to a stop. The aircraft sustained damage to the right main landing gear, nose gear, fuselage, and right wing. A runway edge light was destroyed. No persons were injured.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The Cessna 550 is a twin-engine, low-wing jet with serial number S550-0028, powered by two PW JT15D-4B turbofan engines. It had a valid airworthiness certificate and total airframe hours of 9,255; left engine 9,148; right engine 8,845. The aircraft was configured for executive or ambulance transport.
The 58-year-old male Slovenian captain held a valid ATPL-A license with approximately 7,750 total flight hours, including 5,500 as PIC and 3,000 hours on type. The 25-year-old male Slovenian first officer held a valid CPL-A license with about 951 total flight hours, including 152 on type. Both pilots had flown about 100 hours in the preceding 90 days and 5 hours 50 minutes in the last 24 hours.
Meteorological and Runway Conditions
The METAR at Forlì at 00:50 UTC reported wind variable at 1 knot, visibility 400 meters, runway visual range for runway 12 greater than 1,000 meters, heavy snow, overcast ceiling at 900 feet, temperature 0°C, dew point -1°C, and pressure 1021 hPa. At the time of departure, the runway was contaminated with an estimated 15 mm of snow, which was increasing due to ongoing snowfall. The braking action was reported as not assessable by the airport operator (SEAF SpA) shortly before the aircraft entered the runway.
Investigation Status
The investigation, conducted under EU Regulation 996/2010 and ICAO Annex 13, is ongoing. Flight data recorder (FDR) information has been decoded, but verification of one parameter is pending due to inconsistency with other evidence. Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recording is of good quality but may require translation from the pilots' native language. Some information gaps remain regarding the operator's organization and flight procedures. Safety issues under focus include the potential impact of medical urgency on operational safety in a critical environmental scenario.