What happened
On July 23, 1962, a Beechcraft Baron 95-55, registration HB-GOK, was conducting a ferry flight from Massa Cinquale to Reggio Calabria, Italy. The purpose of the flight was to present the aircraft to potential buyers on board. The flight was being operated under VFR and CFR flight rules.
During the landing phase at Reggio Calabria Airport, the aircraft approached the grass runway on heading 310. The aircraft made a hard touchdown and subsequently entered a skid. The impact resulted in significant damage to the airframe, including the loss of the nose gear, substantial deformation of the fuselage near the wing root and forward section, and damage to the left landing gear strut and wheel. Both propellers were deformed, suggesting potential engine damage.
The investigation
The investigation, which incorporated findings from the Italian commission, examined the aircraft's technical condition, weather conditions, and the flight's final moments. The aircraft was found to have been well-maintained, with approximately 332 flight hours since its last major inspection. The crew consisted of the pilot and four passengers.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft sustained approximately 60% damage, though it was initially considered potentially repairable pending internal structural inspections. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data from the Reggio Calabria airport anemometer to reconstruct the wind conditions at the time of the accident.
Findings
The investigation established that the primary cause of the accident was a combination of excessive approach speed and sudden wind gusts. Specifically, the pilot was maintaining a relatively high approach speed while facing a crosswind of 23 knots. At the critical moment of the landing, a wind gust reaching 28 knots struck the aircraft. This gust likely lifted the aircraft after the initial hard touchdown, causing it to lose directional control and skid across the runway.