M-346 havarerte i Italia i går - The Aviationist / ASN

 

M-346 Crashes During Test Flight In Northern Italy. One Of The Two Crew Members Killed In The Incident

March 16, 2022 Aviation Safety / Air Crashes

DAVID CENCIOTTI

FIle photo of an M-346. In the boxes, the smoke from the crash site as seen in videos published online and the track of the aircraft from Flightradar24.com

An M-346 destined to an export customer crashed in the mountains near Como. The crew ejected: one found dead, the other rescued and hospitalized.

An M-346 aircraft crashed at approximately 11.35AM LT in the area above Colico (Monte Legnone) near Como, Italy, on Mar. 16, 2022. The jet had taken off from Leonardo airfield at Venegono and was involved in a test flight in a restricted airspace located over northern Italy.

Both pilots ejected from the aircraft: one was rescued and hospitalized whereas the other was found dead. The latter was an English outsourced instructor pilot.

File photo of an M-346 Master (Image credit: Leonardo)

According to the Corriere della Sera media outlet, the M-346 “Master” was one of those destined to a foreign air force, undertaking a pre-delivery flight. Many in the area have reported to have seen a “fireball” in the sky (although these reports should always be taken with a lot of grain of salt, considered that people may have seen the ejection of the pilots and not an engine fire). A dense black cloud raising from the top of the mountain was visible several kilometers away.

The first statements released by Leonardo say that “The flight plan included trials aimed at demonstrating specific capabilities which had already been tested during several flights already carried out in the past […] as per its established practice, has immediately activated an internal investigation committee. The cause of the accident is under investigation.”

Date:	16-MAR-2022
Time:	c. 11:35
Type:	Leonardo M-346LFFA Master
Owner/operator:	Leonardo
Registration:	CSX55258
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category:	Accident
Location:	Monte Legnone, Lecco, Pagnona -    Italy
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Varese-Venegono Airport (QVA/LILN)
Destination airport:	Varese-Venegono Airport (QVA/LILN)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news or social media reports

Narrative:
A Leonardo M-346LFFA Master (destined for Turkmenistan Air Force as 06 Blue) that took off from Varese-Venegono Airport (LILN), crashed into Monte Legnone, near Lake Como, Lecco, Pagnona.
Both pilots ejected, one seriously injured, the other died.

Leonardo stated: The aircraft involved in the accident was an M-346 flown by a crew of two made of a Leonardo test pilot and an outsourced instructor pilot. Unfortunately, the instructor pilot, who belonged to an external company, died in the accident. The aircraft took to the air from Leonardo’s Venegono Superiore site (Varese – Italy) at 11:00AM following the technical checks prior to flight authorization, completed shortly ahead of take-off and performed in full compliance with the inspection plan authorized by the relevant aviation authorities.
The flight plan included trials aimed at demonstrating specific capabilities which had already been tested during several flights already carried out in the past."