What happened
On April 18, 2002, at approximately 17:45 local time, a Rockwell Commander 112TC, registration HB-NCX, crashed into the Palazzo della Regione (commonly known as the Pirelli Tower) in Milan, Italy. The aircraft, operated by a single pilot, was performing a VFR flight and was in the process of maneuvering near the Linate airport area. During the final phase of the flight, the pilot reported a technical issue and attempted to manage the aircraft's landing approach amidst complex operational conditions.
The investigation
The Italian National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) conducted the investigation, collaborating with the Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Investigators examined the aircraft's flight path through witness testimonies and analyzed radio communications from the Linate Tower. The inquiry reviewed the pilot's flight experience, the technical state of the landing gear, and the meteorological conditions, specifically the sun's position. The investigation also scrutinized the accuracy of air traffic control instructions and the effectiveness of the radar coverage in the Linate CTR at low altitudes.
Findings
- The primary cause was the pilot's inability to properly manage the final phase of flight while dealing with simultaneous technical, operational, and environmental challenges.
- The pilot was experiencing a technical problem and was performing a cycle of landing gear extension and retraction prior to the impact.
- The sun's position at the time of the event likely caused significant glare, potentially blinding the pilot during the critical gear extension procedure.
- The pilot lacked sufficient training and failed to adhere to specific instructions provided by Linate Tower.
- The pilot was unaware of a NOTAM indicating that runway 36L/18R was closed to fixed-wing traffic.
- Air traffic control communications were found to be occasionally unclear, contradictory, and ambiguous.
- The flight planning for the mission was deemed superficial, and the pilot's flight conduct was characterized by a lack of concentration and poor timing.