Amateur-built RV8 and amateur-built RV-7 mid-air collision near Corropoli, It, May 31, 2015
On May 31, 2015 at about 2:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built RV8 (ILOVI) and amateur-built RV-7 (IAMEL), were involved in a mid-air collision near Corropoli (Corropoli airport). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2015 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corropoli, Italy · Corropoli · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built RV8
- Registration
- ILOVI · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · non-U.S. private rules
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV-7
- Registration
- IAMEL · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV8 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 31, 2015, about 1430 universal coordinated time, a Vans RV8, I-LOVI, and a Vans RV7, I-AMEL, were destroyed after colliding midair and then subsequently colliding with the Adriatic Sea, near Corropoli, Italy. The Italian certificated pilot of the RV8 was fatally injured, and the Italian certificated pilot of the RV7 sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed Corropoli, Italy as part of an airshow, at an unknown time..According to investigators, the airplanes were performing formation flight in what was described as a "mirror formation" at the time of the collision. The RV8 appeared to "lose height" before it struck the RV7, broke up in flight, and fell to the sea. The RV7 performed a forced landing to the sea, and the pilot egressed the airplane with minor injuries. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) of Italy. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo Via A. Benigni, 53-00156 Telephone: +39 06 82 078 229 Fax: +39 06 8273672 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Italy.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built RV-7 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 31, 2015, about 1430 universal coordinated time, a Vans RV8, I-LOVI, and a Vans RV7, I-AMEL, were destroyed after colliding midair and then subsequently colliding with the Adriatic Sea, near Corropoli, Italy. The Italian certificated pilot of the RV8 was fatally injured, and the Italian certificated pilot of the RV7 sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed Corropoli, Italy as part of an airshow, at an unknown time..According to investigators, the airplanes were performing formation flight in what was described as a "mirror formation" at the time of the collision. The RV8 appeared to "lose height" before it struck the RV7, broke up in flight, and fell to the sea. The RV7 performed a forced landing to the sea, and the pilot egressed the airplane with minor injuries. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) of Italy. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo Via A. Benigni, 53-00156 Telephone: +39 06 82 078 229 Fax: +39 06 8273672 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Italy.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the amateur-built RV8 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Corropoli
- Destination: Corropoli
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (aerobatics) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Corropoli
- Destination: Corropoli
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.