Florence-Peretola | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 3,100 feet, the Invader collided with an Eastern Airlines DC-3 registered NC25647 and performing flight EA045 from Washington DC to Columbia with 20 passengers and a crew of four on board. Following the collision, the Invader went out of control and crashed in a field located near Darlington, some 12 miles northwest of Florence. Both crew members were killed. On his side, the crew of the DC-3 was able to make an emergency landing and one passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

On the basis of the evidence available at this time the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of each pilot to see the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. Contributing factors were the DC3 pilot's deviation from the airway in the proximity of an active USAAF base and his lack of vigilance, and the Army-pilot's continuing a maneuver which restricted his vision in an area not set aside for such maneuvers.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Montieri: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1945 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-18603

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Florence – Rome

MSN:

4728

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in a valley in poor weather conditions, the captain increased power to gain height when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of a wooded mountain located 5 km west of Montieri. Two passengers and the captain survived while 23 others occupants were killed, among them 12 civilians of which three nurses. Low clouds consisting of strato-cumulus and mist shrouded the mountain at the time of the accident.
Crew:
1st Lt John A. Boronko, †
1st Lt James D. Fitzgerald, †
Cpt Donald B. Kresch, †
T/Sgt William J. Maddox, †
2nd Lt Marjorie L. McBride, †
M/Sgt B. B. McNutt, †
Cpl Edmund J. Miskell, †
2nd Lt Marion C. Phillips, †
Cpt David M. Ruff, †
1st Lt Roger F. Woodbury. †

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK into the Ligurian Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1945 at 1506 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48313

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Algiers – Florence

MSN:

25574/14129

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Algiers Airport at 1103LT bound for Florence, Italy. Weather conditions along the route were poor with low visibility, cloud at 2,000 - 3,000 feet and snow falls. At 1506LT, the crew received the permission to descend from 12,000 to 6,000 feet towards Florence. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the aircraft may have crash into the Ligurian Sea or on a mountain located somewhere in Corsica.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near Florence: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Registration:

41-27620

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

MSN:

1465

YOM:

1942

Location:

Florence-Peretola

Arizona

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft crashed 9 miles southeast of Florence following an in flight collision due to a pilot error. All four crew members were killed.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Premier: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1942 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-56093

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Battle Creek – Cincinnati – Florence

MSN:

1976

YOM:

1937

Location:

Premier

West Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While approaching Cincinnati-Lunken Field Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew made three attempts to land without success. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft speed was too high and it hit hard the runway surface. The captain increased engine power and decided to continue to Florence, South Carolina. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and turbulence), the aircraft banked left and right and eventually went out of control. From a height of 250 metres, it lost successively part of its wings and elevators, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 21 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m on Mt Tezio: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

G6+KL ?

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Florence - Rome

MSN:

6528

YOM:

1939

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane crashed on the slope of Mt Tezio located about 10 km northwest of Perugia. Two crew members were injured and three others were killed.
Crew:
Fw Paul List, pilot, †
Uffz Heinz Manthei, radio operator, †
Fw Rithmeier, mechanic,
Fhr Otmar Hain, †
Uffz Otto Torge.