Antonov An-24V – YR-AMR – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 13 December 1995

Aircraft Type: Antonov An-24V

Owner/operator: Banat Air, lsf Romavia

Registration Number: YR-AMR

Location: 1,5 km from Verona Airport (VRN) – ÿ Italy

Phase of Flight: Take off

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 49 / Occupants: 49

Component Affected: Aircraft Aerodynamics (specifically, the impact of ice formation on the aircraft’s aerodynamic stability).Aircraft Aerodynamics (specifically, the impact of ice formation on the aircraft’s aerodynamic stability).

Category: Accident

On July 29, 2023, an Antonov An-24 crashed near Verona Airport, Italy, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. The incident was triggered by a loss of control due to icing conditions, leading to a rapid descent and subsequent impact with the ground. Initial investigations suggest a combination of factors contributed to the accident, including the formation of ice, a pilot’s decision not to initiate de-icing or anti-icing procedures, and potentially, a significant weight imbalance. The aircraft was operating at a high altitude and speed, with visibility reduced due to haze and snow, and a temperature of 0øC. The pilot initiated a right-hand turn to reach the SID track, and the airspeed dropped to 179 km/h, increasing to 185 km/h. The aircraft’s trajectory was affected by traffic delays caused by a prior Air France flight returning to the apron after exceeding its holdover time. The aircraft’s speed increased to 220 km/h, and the pilot banked right to reach the SID track. The pilot’s actions resulted in a significant speed reduction, and the aircraft struck the ground on the right-wing. The incident was caused by a combination of factors, including potential spatial disorientation due to aerodynamic instability, a significant weight imbalance, and potentially, a failure to adequately assess weather conditions.On July 29, 2023, an Antonov An-24 crashed near Verona Airport, Italy, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. The incident was triggered by a loss of control due to icing conditions, leading to a rapid descent and subsequent impact with the ground. Initial investigations suggest a combination of factors contributed to the accident, including the formation of ice, a pilot’s decision not to initiate de-icing or anti-icing procedures, and potentially, a significant weight imbalance. The aircraft was operating at a high altitude and speed, with visibility reduced due to haze and snow, and a temperature of 0øC. The pilot initiated a right-hand turn to reach the SID track, and the airspeed dropped to 179 km/h, increasing to 185 km/h. The aircraft’s trajectory was affected by traffic delays caused by a prior Air France flight returning to the apron after exceeding its holdover time. The aircraft’s speed increased to 220 km/h, and the pilot banked right to reach the SID track. The pilot’s actions resulted in a significant speed reduction, and the aircraft struck the ground on the right-wing. The incident was caused by a combination of factors, including potential spatial disorientation due to aerodynamic instability, a significant weight imbalance, and potentially, a failure to adequately assess weather conditions.

Description

Banat Air flight 166, an Antonov An-24, crashed near Verona Airport, Italy, following a loss of control in icing conditions killing all 49 occupants. Banat Air Flight 165 from Timisoara (TSR) landed at Verona-Villafranca Airport (VRN) at 18:43 and taxied to parking spot B6. Snow continued to fall with an outside temperature of 0øC. Forty-one passengers boarded the return flight (166) to Romania. The captain decided not to de-ice the airplane. At 19:34 the An-24 taxied to runway 23. Heavy traffic delayed the departure of Flight 166. A preceding Air France plane had to return to the apron after exceeding the 8-minute holdover time after de-icing. At 19:52 the controller cleared the An-24 to enter the runway for takeoff. At the time of takeoff the wind was 290ø at 02 kts, general visibility 1300 m., RVR 2000 m in haze and snow , overcast at 500 ft. and a temperature of 0ø C, dew temperature below 0øC and QNH 1010. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft reached a maximum speed of 220 km/h. The Antonov banked right in order to reach the SID track of 239 degrees. The airspeed dropped to 179 km/h 25 seconds after becoming airborne. The pilot applied nose down elevator, causing the speed to increase again to 185 km/h. Continuing their right hand turn, the pilot applied nose up elevator again. The speed dropped to 155 km/h with a right hand bank reaching 67 degrees. Some 47 seconds after becoming airborne the speed dropped another 15 km/h. The pilots had lost control of the airplane which struck the ground right-wing first. The Antonov broke up and caught fire. CAUSE: “Alla luce delle evidenze e delle analisi sviluppate in precedenza, la Commissione ritiene di poter trarre le seguenti conclusioni sull’incidente di volo: * La causa probabile dell’incidente stata la perdita di controllo dell’aeromobile dovuta alla degenerazione aerodinamica causata dalla formazione di ghiaccio conseguente alla decisione del Comandante di intraprendere il volo senza effettuare le operazioni “de-icing” ed “anti-icing” previste per le condizioni meteorologiche esistenti sullaeroporto, come codificato nel manuale di volo (flight manual) del velivolo e nel manuale operativo di Compagnia. Possibili fattori causali che hanno contribuito all’incidente sono da imputarsi a: * probabile disorientamento spaziale dellequipaggio determinato dallanomalo comportamento aerodinamico del velivolo in condizioni meteorologiche di precipitazione nevosa, al buio, probabilmente con fari accesi, favorenti fenomeni illusori; * sovrappeso di circa 2000 Kg. con cui stato intrapreso il volo; * mancata possibilit di controllo, da parte dellAutorit, del piano di carico, in quanto non consegnato e non preteso dai rappresentanti della Societ di Gestione aeroportuale e, quindi, non inoltrato allUfficio Traffico; * sottovalutazione delle condizioni meteorologiche; * leggero calo di potenza al motore destro.” PROBABLE CAUSE: (translated from Italian) “In the light of evidence and analysis developed previously, the Commission believes it can draw the following conclusions about the flight: * The probable cause for the accident was the loss of control due to degeneration of aircraft aerodynamics caused by ice formation resulting from the decision of the commander to take off without “de-icing” and “anti-icing” given meteorological conditions that existed and the airport, and as laid down in the flight manual of the aircraft and the Operations Manual of the Company. Possible factors that have contributed to the accident are: * Likely spatial disorientation of the crew caused by anomalous aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft in weather conditions of snow, darkess, probably with the lights on, favoring illusory phenomena; * It toof off being overloaded by about 2000 kg.; * The Authority, could not check the aircraft load sheet, since it had not been delivered nor demanded by the representatives of the Airport Management Company, and therefore not forwarded to the Traffic Office; * Underestimation of the weather conditions; * Slight decrease in power of the right hand engine.”

Primary Cause

Loss of control due to ice formation resulting from a pilot’s decision not to initiate de-icing and anti-icing procedures, compounded by a significant weight imbalance and potentially inadequate weather assessment.Loss of control due to ice formation resulting from a pilot’s decision not to initiate de-icing and anti-icing procedures, compounded by a significant weight imbalance and potentially inadequate weather assessment.

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