Incident Overview
On May 13, 2018, at 15:57 local time, a Reims Aviation F152 registered as HB-CNK crashed into the terrain near Paltano in the Val Bedretto valley, Ticino. The aircraft was operated by Flugschule Eichenberger AG and was on a private visual flight rules (VFR) journey from Lugano to Buttwil. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1988 holding an EASA Private Pilot Licence, and one passenger were aboard. The pilot remained uninjured, while the passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft suffered heavy damage.
Flight Progression
The flight originated from Rome Urbe, with stops in Genoa and Lugano. After departing Lugano at 15:08, the aircraft flew along the Valle Leventina toward the Gotthard Pass. The pilot assessed weather conditions via webcams and deemed them sufficient for a crossing, despite official forecasts indicating closed cloud layers over the Alpine passes. Between Ambri and Airolo, the aircraft descended from approximately 7,300 ft to 5,900 ft AMSL while circling.
Deviation and Impact
Upon reaching the western end of Val Bedretto, the pilot decided against crossing the Gotthard Pass due to critical conditions and turned toward the Nufenen Pass. The aircraft climbed along the valley but remained below the pass height. While attempting to gain altitude in a series of turns, the cloud base lowered further. At 15:55, the pilot entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while flying toward Airolo. He initiated a left turn, passing over high-voltage lines with approximately 30 meters of clearance. The pilot reported reduced engine power, likely due to low air density or icing, as the aircraft climbed into rising terrain. The engine air filter was found heavily iced three hours after the crash. The aircraft ultimately impacted a sloped snowfield at Paltano, rolled over its nose, and came to rest on its back.