What happened
On May 26, 2006, a Mooney M20S, registration HB-DHY, was participating in a multi-aircraft navigation raid traveling from Zurich to Malta. After taking off from the Giubiliana airstrip in Ragusa, Italy, the aircraft returned to the same site approximately eight minutes later to land on runway 07.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced approximately one meter into the air. Following this bounce, the aircraft failed to settle on the runway and instead continued flying at a low altitude. The aircraft eventually struck a dry-stone wall located at the end of the runway near the threshold of runway 25. The impact caused a massive fire that destroyed the forward fuselage and cockpit. All three fatalities occurred during the accident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the plane had been regularly serviced and was in good condition. The engine and propeller showed no signs of mechanical failure. Meteorological data indicated clear weather with light winds, though it was noted that the wind was a slight tailwind for the landing.
The investigation also scrutinized the Giubiliana airstrip itself. It was found that the windsock equipment was partially non-functional, with one sock missing its fabric and the other being torn. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the official ENAC website did not accurately reflect the specific operational limitations or the true technical characteristics of the runway.
Findings
Technical analysis suggests the primary cause was the impact with a perimeter wall following an unsuccessful attempt to execute a go-around. The aircraft touched down with suboptimal speed and attitude, leading to a bounce. During this period of instability, the pilot likely experienced indecision regarding whether to continue the landing or abort.
When the decision was made to initiate a go-around, the maneuver was executed poorly. The investigation suggests the pilot may have retracted the flaps from the 'down' position to 'take-off' without sufficient airspeed or a positive rate of climb, causing the aircraft to sink. There is also a possibility that the engine power was not applied fully, potentially due to the high-stress environment of the critical situation.
Safety action
Following the findings, several recommendations were directed toward the national aviation authority (ENAC) to:
- Update the official website to accurately reflect the technical characteristics of the Giubiliana runway.
- Conduct a technical evaluation of the airstrip's specific geographical and microclimatic constraints to ensure all operational limitations are publicized.
- Ensure the airstrip operator maintains functional wind-direction indicators and compliant runway markings.