Narrative:
Trade Air Flight 729, a Let L-410UVP-E19A, departed Bergamo Airport, Italy, for a night-time cargo flight to Zagreb.
The aircraft, in cargo configuration, was used to carry a cargo consisting of small packages for a total weight of 1600 kg. On board, in addition to the two pilots, the commander's wife was also present as a passenger.
The weather conditions were characterized by calm wind and dense fog, which limited visibility to less than 400m. After several requests from the captain, the aircraft was cleared for start-up and taxiing; the aircraft followed the follow-me vehicle from apron 12, where it was stationed, to the runway 28 threshold, as required by Orio al Serio Airport procedures for operations in very low visibility conditions.
After take-off, the aircraft was cleared for SID "ORI 5Q", which provided, for the initial climb, the maintenance of the runway heading up to 2 NM.
The aircraft, however, began a slight turn to the left, which, in an increasingly accentuated manner, led it to reverse its flight direction and quickly lose altitude, until it hit the ground with a heading opposite the take-off heading, about one kilometer from the runway, after about one minute of flight. The impact occurred in a ploughed field, after hitting and cutting the cables of a medium voltage power line at the edge of the field.
CAUSES:
As far as is established, documented and substantiated, the cause of the accident is due to a loss of control in flight of the aircraft. Although the cause of this loss of control could not be established with incontrovertible certainty, it can reasonably be assumed that it was caused by a deterioration in the situation awareness of the crew during the initial climb immediately after take-off.
The loss of such situation awareness may have been contributed jointly or severally:
- the displacement or incorrect positioning of the load, which would have induced a moment of rotation on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft (roll) not immediately perceived and counteracted by the crew;
- spatial disorientation, as a result of the possible optical illusion produced by the high speed "E" TWY lights, which, crossing the thick fog, could have induced the pilot to veer, thus causing the final loss of control of the aircraft.
In addition, the limited flight experience of the co-pilot and the inadequate application of CRM techniques by the crew did not allow for a timely identification of the hazardous situation and the necessary actions to recover the aircraft.
» Trade Air
LIME 302050Z 13005KT 0300 R28/0550D FG BKN001 11/10 Q1023=
Wind 130 degrees at 5 kts, visibility 300m, runway visual range on runway 28 is 550 m decreasing in fog, 5-7 oktas cloud at 100ft, temperature 11°C dewpoint 10°C, QNH 1023hPa21:20 UTC / 22:20 local time:
LIME 302120Z 14004KT 0200 R28/0350N FG BKN001 11/10 Q1023=
Wind 140 degrees at 4 kts, visibility 200m, runway visual range on runway 28 is 350 m in fog, 5-7 oktas cloud at 100ft, temperature 11°C, dewpoint 10°C, QNH 1023hPa
accident date: 30-10-2005
type: Let L-410UVP-E19A
registration: 9A-BTA
accident date: 30-10-2005
type: Let L-410UVP-E19A
registration: OK-WDO
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 30 October 2005 |
| Time: | 22:04 |
| Type: |  Let L-410UVP-E19A |
| Operator: | Trade Air |
| Registration: | 9A-BTA |
| MSN: | 912538 |
| First flight: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7185 |
| Engines: | 2 Walter M-601E |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 1 km (0.6 mls) S of Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport (BGY) ( Italy)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport (BGY/LIME), Italy |
| Zagreb-Pleso Airport (ZAG/LDZA), Croatia | |
| Flightnumber: | 729 |
Trade Air Flight 729, a Let L-410UVP-E19A, departed Bergamo Airport, Italy, for a night-time cargo flight to Zagreb.
The aircraft, in cargo configuration, was used to carry a cargo consisting of small packages for a total weight of 1600 kg. On board, in addition to the two pilots, the commander's wife was also present as a passenger.
The weather conditions were characterized by calm wind and dense fog, which limited visibility to less than 400m. After several requests from the captain, the aircraft was cleared for start-up and taxiing; the aircraft followed the follow-me vehicle from apron 12, where it was stationed, to the runway 28 threshold, as required by Orio al Serio Airport procedures for operations in very low visibility conditions.
After take-off, the aircraft was cleared for SID "ORI 5Q", which provided, for the initial climb, the maintenance of the runway heading up to 2 NM.
The aircraft, however, began a slight turn to the left, which, in an increasingly accentuated manner, led it to reverse its flight direction and quickly lose altitude, until it hit the ground with a heading opposite the take-off heading, about one kilometer from the runway, after about one minute of flight. The impact occurred in a ploughed field, after hitting and cutting the cables of a medium voltage power line at the edge of the field.
Probable Cause:
CAUSES:
As far as is established, documented and substantiated, the cause of the accident is due to a loss of control in flight of the aircraft. Although the cause of this loss of control could not be established with incontrovertible certainty, it can reasonably be assumed that it was caused by a deterioration in the situation awareness of the crew during the initial climb immediately after take-off.
The loss of such situation awareness may have been contributed jointly or severally:
- the displacement or incorrect positioning of the load, which would have induced a moment of rotation on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft (roll) not immediately perceived and counteracted by the crew;
- spatial disorientation, as a result of the possible optical illusion produced by the high speed "E" TWY lights, which, crossing the thick fog, could have induced the pilot to veer, thus causing the final loss of control of the aircraft.
In addition, the limited flight experience of the co-pilot and the inadequate application of CRM techniques by the crew did not allow for a timely identification of the hazardous situation and the necessary actions to recover the aircraft.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» ANSV» Trade Air
METAR Weather report:
20:50 UTC / 21:50 local time:LIME 302050Z 13005KT 0300 R28/0550D FG BKN001 11/10 Q1023=
Wind 130 degrees at 5 kts, visibility 300m, runway visual range on runway 28 is 550 m decreasing in fog, 5-7 oktas cloud at 100ft, temperature 11°C dewpoint 10°C, QNH 1023hPa21:20 UTC / 22:20 local time:
LIME 302120Z 14004KT 0200 R28/0350N FG BKN001 11/10 Q1023=
Wind 140 degrees at 4 kts, visibility 200m, runway visual range on runway 28 is 350 m in fog, 5-7 oktas cloud at 100ft, temperature 11°C, dewpoint 10°C, QNH 1023hPa
Photos
accident date: 30-10-2005
type: Let L-410UVP-E19A
registration: 9A-BTA
accident date: 30-10-2005
type: Let L-410UVP-E19A
registration: OK-WDO
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport to Zagreb-Pleso Airport as the crow flies is 491 km (307 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport to Zagreb-Pleso Airport as the crow flies is 491 km (307 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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