Romanshorn | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft departed Zurich-Kloten at 0857LT on a local training flight, carrying one instructor, five student pilots, two engineers and one technician. The airplane followed different circuits at an altitude between 1,000 and 3,000 meters when control was lost over the Constance Lake. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the lake about 4 km off Romanshorn. The wreckage sank by a depth of 200 meters and only few debris were found on water and on the bank between Romanshorn and Arbon. All nine occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Thorough investigation of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any technical malfunction. On impact with the water the aircraft was in the following configuration:
- undercarriage fully extended; flaps retracted; trim position impossible to determine; right propeller not feathered; twin RPM indicator showed left engine - 1 550 RPM, right engine - 1 350 RPM.
The accident is attributed to the stalling of the aircraft following loss of airspeed, whereupon it unintentionally went into a spin. In view of insufficient altitude, it was not possible to level off the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Savoia S.16 off Romanshorn: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1920

Type of aircraft:

Savoia S.16

Operator:

Registration:

CH-4

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Romanshorn - Romanshorn

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to an Air Show in Romanshorn and arrived in the morning from Geneva. During a demo flight, while flying at an altitude of 700 metres, the aircraft went out of control and lost height. During the dive, wings and other pieces detached and the aircraft eventually crashed in the Lake Constance, some 200 metres offshore. Quickly on the scene, SAR teams just found some debris floating on water and both dead bodies were found later in the lake bottom. The Swiss aviator Pierre Émile Taddéoli was killed with his mechanic Y. Giovanelli, engineer by the Italian motorist Isotta-Fraschini.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot lost control of the aircraft after the propeller detached in flight.