Plane flies into Tower Milan
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Plane flies into Tower Milan
A plane flew into a tower in Milan, Aviation News they should have a gear problem. Anyone know what type of a/c it was?
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The BBC says it's a Piper and goes on to add:
"Piper aircraft are for private use and not for commercial flights.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says Pipers have a history of safety problems to do with systems failures. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...00/1937976.stm
Given the news source, it could be anything <g>...
"Piper aircraft are for private use and not for commercial flights.
BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says Pipers have a history of safety problems to do with systems failures. "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...00/1937976.stm
Given the news source, it could be anything <g>...
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From www.msnbc.com :
"There were conflicting reports on the type of plane involved, with some suggesting it was a Rockwell Aero Commander aircraft and others saying it was a Cessna 182 Skylane."
Yep, maybe a C-182 with a "hydraulic" problem...
"There were conflicting reports on the type of plane involved, with some suggesting it was a Rockwell Aero Commander aircraft and others saying it was a Cessna 182 Skylane."
Yep, maybe a C-182 with a "hydraulic" problem...
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Thats, what I thought, too. But maybe the plane didn´t hit straight, but more from the side. When I saw the hole in TV, I thought more about an airliner of the Dornier 328 size.
Think about the broken window, the suicide 15-year old caused in Florida with the 2-seat Cessna...?
If the plane was on a flight plan, it should be easy to find out the make and model?
Condolences for the victims, though.
Think about the broken window, the suicide 15-year old caused in Florida with the 2-seat Cessna...?
If the plane was on a flight plan, it should be easy to find out the make and model?
Condolences for the victims, though.
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Milan Crash Pilot Was Experienced Swiss Flyer
Thu Apr 18, 3:22 PM ET
GENEVA (Reuters) - The pilot who crashed into a Milan skyscraper Thursday killing at least three people took off from the southern Swiss town of Locarno and was a Swiss member of a local flying club, television and residents said.
The TSI station from Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino region, bordering northern Italy, said the pilot took off in the late afternoon on a flight to Milan's Linate airport.
He was alone in the single-engine, four-seater Rockwell Commander plane when it slammed into Milan's Pirelli building in what Italian National Air Safety Agency officials have said was an accident.
The television station gave no source for its report and police in Locarno told Reuters they could give no information, saying Milan investigators were handling the investigation.
But a former president of the Locarno flying club, Pietro Marci, identified the pilot as Gino Fasulo, a 67-year-old Swiss member of the club.
"He had been flying for a long time. He had a lot of experience," Marci told Reuters.
Marci, who had known Fasulo for some 10 years, said another club member saw the pilot shortly before he left and he appeared to be in good health.
Italian transport officials said the pilot reported technical problems shortly before smashing into the upper floors of the Pirelli office block, which dominates the skyline of Italy's financial capital.
At least three people died and several dozen were injured, a senior local government official said.
_________________________________________
And from CNN:
"The Swiss pilot of the Rockwell Commander A112 plane was identified by Italian civil aviation officials as Luigi Fasulo, 75, who was well-known to people at Magadino Airport, near Locarno, Switzerland, local TSI television said. "
Thu Apr 18, 3:22 PM ET
GENEVA (Reuters) - The pilot who crashed into a Milan skyscraper Thursday killing at least three people took off from the southern Swiss town of Locarno and was a Swiss member of a local flying club, television and residents said.
The TSI station from Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino region, bordering northern Italy, said the pilot took off in the late afternoon on a flight to Milan's Linate airport.
He was alone in the single-engine, four-seater Rockwell Commander plane when it slammed into Milan's Pirelli building in what Italian National Air Safety Agency officials have said was an accident.
The television station gave no source for its report and police in Locarno told Reuters they could give no information, saying Milan investigators were handling the investigation.
But a former president of the Locarno flying club, Pietro Marci, identified the pilot as Gino Fasulo, a 67-year-old Swiss member of the club.
"He had been flying for a long time. He had a lot of experience," Marci told Reuters.
Marci, who had known Fasulo for some 10 years, said another club member saw the pilot shortly before he left and he appeared to be in good health.
Italian transport officials said the pilot reported technical problems shortly before smashing into the upper floors of the Pirelli office block, which dominates the skyline of Italy's financial capital.
At least three people died and several dozen were injured, a senior local government official said.
_________________________________________
And from CNN:
"The Swiss pilot of the Rockwell Commander A112 plane was identified by Italian civil aviation officials as Luigi Fasulo, 75, who was well-known to people at Magadino Airport, near Locarno, Switzerland, local TSI television said. "
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Great aviation journalism again. BBC Radio first reported it to be a "Cessna Piper" "tourist plane" and then a "two-seat Piper trainer" (Tomahawk?!?!?) 
Still, "BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says Pipers have a history of safety problems to do with systems failures." (from http://news.bbc.co.uk) so that's that one solved...
Still, "BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says Pipers have a history of safety problems to do with systems failures." (from http://news.bbc.co.uk) so that's that one solved...
Last edited by Evo7; 18th Apr 2002 at 18:57.
BS Factor seems high.....heavy reporting about a Piper, "capable of carrying 10 persons". Now all news sources I've checked on the net - Washington Post, Ananova.com, Frankfurter Allgemeine - seem to agree it's a Aero Commander. Not really the weapon of choice for your average terrorist kamikaze! Greaser - aeroplanes have hit buildings unintentionally before, including the Empire State.
*edit* this may be a scale thing. The building is 30 stories/175 m, but some of the TV angles make it look much bigger
*edit* this may be a scale thing. The building is 30 stories/175 m, but some of the TV angles make it look much bigger
Last edited by steamchicken; 18th Apr 2002 at 19:07.
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Does anyone know the wx in Milan at the time? If it was VMC, its hard (but not impossible of course) to believe he accidentally hit the building.
I can't believe a gear problem would prevent the aircraft from turning. Perhaps some sort of technical problem could have rendered the pilot unable to turn the aircraft, but it seems very unlikely. And if so, unbelievably bad luck that he managed to find the tallest building around.
I can't believe a gear problem would prevent the aircraft from turning. Perhaps some sort of technical problem could have rendered the pilot unable to turn the aircraft, but it seems very unlikely. And if so, unbelievably bad luck that he managed to find the tallest building around.
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With perfect VMC WX, and this being a lone, high-rise building for miles, it is fishy to say the least. First reports say the pilot reported that he had a landing gear problem and possibly hit the building while extending the gear manually at which point he was looking down at the floor inside the aircraft.
Considering the top buidling is at about 300 feet AGL, it sounds a funny altitude/position to be extending your gear manually?!
Other sources say he was facing the sunset, but come on guys, this is a skyscraper and not an enemy fighter!
As pointed above, and as stated by Jim Hall (ex-NTSB chief) the damage to the building does seem to be out of proportion with an AeroCommander hitting it at normal speed.
Considering that the aircraft (or what was left of it) went right through the building and at the same level, this would indicate, that the aircraft hit the building straight and level and at high speed.
I do not think that this is necessarily a terrorist attack but I still believe it was a deliberate act, for whatever reason the pilot had...
Considering the top buidling is at about 300 feet AGL, it sounds a funny altitude/position to be extending your gear manually?!
Other sources say he was facing the sunset, but come on guys, this is a skyscraper and not an enemy fighter!
As pointed above, and as stated by Jim Hall (ex-NTSB chief) the damage to the building does seem to be out of proportion with an AeroCommander hitting it at normal speed.
Considering that the aircraft (or what was left of it) went right through the building and at the same level, this would indicate, that the aircraft hit the building straight and level and at high speed.
I do not think that this is necessarily a terrorist attack but I still believe it was a deliberate act, for whatever reason the pilot had...
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Well...the WX at LIN was Cavok....and indeed the old man had a gear mulfunction because he told ATC.
Then ATC instructed the Pilot to fly west of LIN Apt in order to deal with the problem and , once solved (possibly) , to contact ATC again to be put back in the flow to land.
Most probably The little Aero Commander didn't have an Autopilot, and while dealing with the handle to crank the landing gear down, the poor chap didn't look OUT and got space-disoriented.
Some ground witnesses say there was some smoke coming out the plane before crashing.
Therefore it was just an accident.
Then ATC instructed the Pilot to fly west of LIN Apt in order to deal with the problem and , once solved (possibly) , to contact ATC again to be put back in the flow to land.
Most probably The little Aero Commander didn't have an Autopilot, and while dealing with the handle to crank the landing gear down, the poor chap didn't look OUT and got space-disoriented.
Some ground witnesses say there was some smoke coming out the plane before crashing.
Therefore it was just an accident.
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Looking at the Swiss aircraft registry it looks like the aircraft was HB-NCX, a Rockwell 112TC serial number 13014 built in 1976.
Luigi Fasulo is the listed owner.
Luigi Fasulo is the listed owner.
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Not that I know a dam' thing about it, but . . .
The Pirelli building is, as I understand, an all-stressed-concrete structure, not a steel-frame-and-concrete structure as, for example, the WTC towers. For that reason, as far as my lame knowledge of structures goes, the floor decks are generally far stronger and stiffer than they would be in other types of construction.
In such a case, I would be not entirely amazed if a (relatively) light A/C like a Commander, impacting the building at a given level, were to stay on that level, the floor decks being stiff and strong enough to contain it.
Even more so if what we are talking about exiting the opposite face of the building is not the whole A/C but the A/C broken up into many smaller, lighter pieces.
JMHO, any real civil engineers are welcome to point out the whole depth and breadth of my ignorance.
llater,
llamas
The Pirelli building is, as I understand, an all-stressed-concrete structure, not a steel-frame-and-concrete structure as, for example, the WTC towers. For that reason, as far as my lame knowledge of structures goes, the floor decks are generally far stronger and stiffer than they would be in other types of construction.
In such a case, I would be not entirely amazed if a (relatively) light A/C like a Commander, impacting the building at a given level, were to stay on that level, the floor decks being stiff and strong enough to contain it.
Even more so if what we are talking about exiting the opposite face of the building is not the whole A/C but the A/C broken up into many smaller, lighter pieces.
JMHO, any real civil engineers are welcome to point out the whole depth and breadth of my ignorance.
llater,
llamas
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Yeah... the Pirelli building is made of heavy concrete and steel and even apart from that it doesn't surprise me if a light plane flying at it' cruise speed digs that big a hole in there...