What happened
On September 3, 2003, a Mooney M20J, registration D-EBYA, departed from Locarno aerodrome for a flight toward Landshut, Germany. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft transitioned through the airspace of the Zurich Flight Information Centre (FIC). While flying through the Malvaglia valley, the aircraft was observed by a witness near the village of Monda, though visibility was obscured by fog.
Radar tracking indicated that the aircraft performed several maneuvers, including a tight right turn, before the signal terminated at 12:17 local time. The aircraft struck the southern wall of the Puntone dei Fraciòn in the Adula massif. The impact caused the aircraft to explode and burn completely. There were two fatalities among the crew, and no survivors were found at the scene.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft's engine was producing power at the moment of impact, based on the deformation of the propeller. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's landing gear and flaps were retracted. While the aircraft was equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), the unit was destroyed upon impact.
Investigators examined radar data, which showed intermittent tracking in the minutes leading up to the crash, a common occurrence for VFR flights in mountainous terrain where topography can create radar shadows. The investigation also reviewed radio communications between the pilot and the Zurich FIC, noting that the controller had informed the pilot of a nearby military shooting area.