Plane Crash at Bangor International Airport Claims Life of Pilot
BANGOR, Maine—A single-engine plane crashed at Bangor International Airport on August 24, killing 74-year-old Italian pilot Luigi Accusani, according to federal officials.
The crash occurred shortly after 1:21 p.m., shortly after Accusani received clearance to land. Witnesses reported that the aircraft bounced on the runway, struck a light guiding pilots for landing, and then veered into a fence before tumbling across the ground. No other individuals were on board.
Accusani was ferrying the Cessna A185F from Europe and had reportedly requested a wind check just minutes before the crash, which indicated winds of 14 knots gusting to 19 knots.
According to witnesses, the plane’s left wing dipped close to the pavement as he attempted to land. A Federal Aviation Administration employee noted the pilot appeared to try to correct his approach amid crosswinds.
An aviation expert suggested that Accusani may have been executing a “go-around” maneuver, a common practice to abort a landing. The aircraft was registered to Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc., based in the United Kingdom, which assists foreign pilots in registering aircraft with the FAA.
Accusani held several Italian flight certificates, along with a foreign-based pilot certificate from the FAA, and had accumulated 2,200 flight hours as of May 2024.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident and will provide a full report in the future.