What happened
On May 24, 2003, a Laverda Falco F.8-L, registration HB-UOK, departed from the Nuits-Saint-Georges airfield in France, bound for Annemasse and then Geneva. Shortly after takeoff from runway 12, the aircraft flew at a low altitude and performed a slight left turn. Witnesses observed the aircraft strike a line of trees approximately twenty meters from the runway boundary before impacting a departmental road. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and skid into a nearby field. The crash resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and one passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the accident site to determine the cause of the loss of control. The aircraft was found to be within its permitted weight and center of gravity limits, with full fuel tanks at the time of departure. Examination of the propeller blades and impact marks on the ground confirmed that the engine was still producing power at the moment of impact, ruling out an engine failure during the takeoff roll.
While the flight control cables for the ailerons and rudder remained intact, the condition of the wreckage prevented a full inspection of the elevator trim mechanism due to severe fire damage. The landing gear was found to be retracted at the time of the crash. Autopsies of the occupants did not reveal any medical factors that contributed to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating within its approved mass and balance limits.
- The engine was producing power at the time of the collision, meaning engine failure was not the cause.
- The aircraft was flying at a very low altitude when the right wing struck the ground.
- The investigation could not definitively rule out a malfunction of the elevator trim due to the extensive fire damage to the airframe.