What happened
On September 24, 1960, a Sokol aircraft, registered as HB-TAK, was involved in a flight accident near Muzzana del Turgnano, located in the Udine province of Italy. During the flight, the aircraft encountered unexpected and unfavorable meteorological conditions. Faced with significantly reduced visibility, the pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing in the area.
The investigation
The investigation into the event was conducted by the Italian Ministry of Aeronautics (Ministero della Difesa Aeronautica). The findings were subsequently shared with the Swiss authorities. The review of the documentation included the aircraft's airworthiness certificate, registration details, the pilot's private license, and technical manuals. The investigation focused on the environmental factors present at the time of the incident to determine why the landing was necessary.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was adverse weather conditions that emerged during the flight. These meteorological changes resulted in a loss of visibility, which prevented the pilot from continuing the planned flight path and necessitated the improvised landing.