Milan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Milan to Genoa with two pilots and one passenger on board, the Director of an Italian Company working for Coca Cola. On approach to Genoa-Cristoforo Colombo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. Due to insufficient visibility, the crew initiated a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, while completing a second attempt to land, the aircraft descended too low and crashed in the sea some 8 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1649 Starliner near Milan: 68 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1959 at 1735 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

Operator:

Registration:

N7313C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Athens – Rome – Milan – Paris – Shannon – Gander – Chicago

MSN:

1015

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

TW891

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

25514

Captain / Total hours on type:

682.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

12150

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

6671

Circumstances:

About fifteen minutes after it departed Milan-Malpensa Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed the airplane was hit by lightning when the right wing broke off shortly later. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a field located 32 km northwest of Milan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 68 occupants have been killed.
More info on https://www.olgiateolona26giugno1959.org/cra_e.html

Probable cause:

The breaking-up in flight was due to the explosion of the fuel vapours contained in tank No.7, followed immediately by either an explosion of pressure or a further explosion in tank no.6. In the absence of other significant concrete evidence, taking into account the stormy weather conditions, with frequent electric discharges, existing in the area at the time of the crash, it may be assumed that the explosion of the fuel vapours contained in tank No.7 was set off, through the outlet pipes, by igniting of the gasoline vapours issuing from these pipes as a consequence of static electricity discharges (streamer corona) which developed on the vent outlets.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fiat G.18 in Milan

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Fiat G.18

Operator:

Registration:

I-ETNA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Milan - Milan

MSN:

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a test flight in the Milan area, the crew encountered fuel problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft was wrecked while all occupants escaped unhurt.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52C-2 near Milan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

R4+GM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gilz

MSN:

0794

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Gilze-Rijen AFB on an operation to England. Over the North Sea, it was attacked by a British fighter. A crew member was killed during this attack. The rest of the crew decided to return to base in Holland but eventually bailed out over France, having thrown out the body of the pilot by parachute. With the autopilot system on, the airplane continued to Italy then crashed when it ran out of fuel.
Crew:
Oblt Paul Bohn, pilot, †
Fw Hans Engmann, radio operator,
Uffz Walter Lindner, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V in Milan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

N1497

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

1637

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Abingdon in the evening of August 15 to bomb an aircraft factory located in Milan, Italy. It is believed that it was shot down by the Italian Flak while approaching the target area and crash landed. The pilot was killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
F/O Kenneth Hesketh Higson, pilot, †
Sgt D. W. Green,
Sgt Henry JohnDavis,
P/O Albert Ernest Victor Oliver,
Sgt A. Millington.

Probable cause:

Possibly shot down by the Italian Flak.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte on Piz Cengalo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-AVFB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Frankfurt – Milan

MSN:

5928

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying the Swiss Alps, the aircraft disappeared. As it failed to arrive in Milan, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few weeks later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupant was found. A mountain guide found the wreckage 14 years later, on 14 July 1952, on the slope of the Piz Cengalo located at the border between Italy and Switzerland, on the Italian territory. Few mail bags were recovered and returned to local authorities.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.312 Libeccio in Paris

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Caproni Ca.310/311/312/313

Operator:

Registration:

I-ALAL

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Milan – Paris – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a positioning flight from Milan to Croydon. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane crashed upon landing at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte in Frankfurt: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1938 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-ABUR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Milan – Frankfurt

MSN:

5777

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach in snow falls and icing conditions, the three engine aircraft named 'Charles Haar' went out of control and crashed. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Icing.

Crash of an OFM F7/3m on Mt Basso: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1936 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

OFM F.VII

Operator:

Registration:

I-AAXZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Milan - Torino

MSN:

359

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane departed Milan on a schedule service to Torino, carrying four passengers and three crew members. Approaching Torino from the northwest, the crew contacted Torino Airport, reporting poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The airplane impacted the slope of Mt Basso located 36 km west of Torino Airport. The wreckage was found 300 metres below the summit. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Carlo Teboldi, pilot,
Dante Bulgarelli, copilot,
Tiberio Cara, radio operator.
Passengers:
Carlo Alberto Pensa,
Luigi Colombo,
Angelo Villa,
André Anderheggen.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-115E near Pian San Giacomo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1935 at 1225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

PH-AKG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Milan – Frankfurt – Amsterdam

MSN:

1335

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3200

Circumstances:

The aircraft named 'Gaai' departed Milan Airport at 1156LT bound for Frankfurt. While overflying Ticino at the altitude of 5,000 metres, the crew encountered poor weather with severe icing conditions. The aircraft lost height and while descending through the last cloud layer, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted trees and crashed near Pian San Giacomo, Graubünden. The stewardess was found seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. She died from her injuries few hours later.

Probable cause:

Lost of control following an excessive accumulation of ice on both wings and fuselage, increasing aircraft's weight and decreasing performances. Poor weather conditions, icing, low visibility and the absence of a suitable terrain for an emergency landing were considered as contributing factors.

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