The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

The last Atlantic crossing of Luigi Accusani

The parable of the life in aviation of Luigi Accusani, "The Count" to everyone, ended tragically at the Bangor airport in Maine. He departed on August 16 from Mazzè airfield in Piedmont, with a rented Cessna 185 Skywagon, reaching the United States via the North Atlantic route. First came a short stint to Le Touquet (France) after more than 4 flight hours. Then with other 5 hours and 24 minutes of flight he reached Wick in the far north of Scotland. On August 17, Luigi flew another 6 hours and 11 minutes to arrive at Reykjavik in Iceland and on August 19, a further flight lasting 6 hours and 17 minutes brought him to Narsarsuaq (Greenland). After two days of rest, on August 21, he departed for Goose Bay (Terranova, Canada) reached in a further 5 hours and 2 minutes. On August 22, he set off for the United States and, after 5 flight hours, came his fatal crash during the landing phase at Bangor International airport.

From the end of the 'Seventies, the young Luigi became a free flight expert at a competitive level, with delta-winged hang gliders. In April 1983 he won the Piedmont Hang Gliding Championships, a discipline which had just recognized by CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee). The contest, which took place at Andrate, was organized by the Turin Aero Club and saw the participation of 111 athletes with many spectators. Behind Accusani, the rankings included Marco Bartolozzi, Davide Manna (1981 Italian Champion) and Angelo Crapanzano. Also Adelio and Piero Galleano ranked in the first ten places. All these daring sportsmen were members of the Peccetto Delta Club which was immediately recognized by Aero Club Torino as their free flight section. The following month, Luigi Accusani ranked second in the Italian Championships held at Pieve d'Albago (Belluno). Davide Manna came first with Piero Galleano not far behind.

Being ahead of his time, in 1978 Accusani set up the Giesse Team at the Garzigliana airfield near Turin. The new firm was focused on the selling of the early types of ultra-light aircraft, usually powered delta-winged machines, and in the training of their pilots. In 1981 Marco Bartolazzi entered the Giesse Team and in the meantime the complementary company Ultrasport was set up to assemble kit aircraft imported from the USA. The models marketed in Italy were the American Aerolights Falcon and the single seat Eagle XL manufactured by the same company. In recent years the "Count" was flying with his Piper PA-18-135 Super Cub based at Cantarana airstrip near Asti. Hopefully, Luigi is flying higher than ever.

In the picture: Luigi Accusani and his Piper Super Cub in arrival at Turin/Aeritalia airport on August 8, 2023. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, August 2025)