CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The float plane was completing a tour between South America and Italy on behalf of the Ministero dell'Aeronautica, carrying six crew members. Few minutes after takeoff from Natal, the airplane caught fire, exploded and crashed into the ocean. A crew member was rescued while five others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Mario Stoppani,
Cpt Mario Viola, †
Cpt Molinari, †
Cpt Enrico Comani, radio operator, †
Demetrio Jaira, mechanic, †
Renato Pogliani. †

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone off Benghazi: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1936

Type of aircraft:

CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone

Operator:

Registration:

I-RODI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Addis Ababa – Benghazi – Rome

MSN:

301

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Benghazi, one of the three engines exploded. The pilot decided to hurry the descent when the float plane hit the mast of a boat and crashed in a huge explosion into the bay off Benghazi. The radio navigator was seriously injured and all nine others occupants were killed. The airplane was en route to Rome with the mail from the Italian troops based in Ethiopia.

Probable cause:

Engine explosion on approach.