Naples | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff, both engines lost power and a wheels up landing was made in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. An investigation revealed that the aircraft had been refuel with Jet-A fuel rather than 100 low lead avgas. The lineman had inadvertently used the Jet-A fuel truck which was identical to the Avgas truck except for a decal, appx 4' by 16', which identified the type of fuel. The lineman stated that his training consisted of approximately 30 minutes of reading the company maintenance manual on how to refuel the different company aircraft, then was given on-the-job training for a brief time. When he went to refuel N89PB prior to the accident flight, he went to the parking space where the Avgas truck was normally parked, but on that occasion, the Jet-A fuel truck was there.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (c) fluid, fuel grade - improper
2. (c) maintenance, service of aircraft/equipment - improper - ground personnel
3. (f) habit interference - ground personnel
4. (f) inadequate surveillance, inadequate procedure - company/operator mgmt
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
5. Terrain condition - rough/uneven
6. Wheels up landing - performed - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Naples

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976 at 0857 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Registration:

N27R

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Naples - Winston Salem

MSN:

303

YOM:

1974

Location:

Naples

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3826

Captain / Total hours on type:

768.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Naples Airport, while initial climb, the airplane collided with a flock of seagulls that entered the engines. Both engines' compressors stalled, the airplane lost speed then stalled and crashed in an open field located past the runway end. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 11 occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Bird strike during initial climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failure to provide adequate directives, manual, equipment,
- Failure to notify of unsafe conditions / and or failure to mark obstruction,
- Bird ingestion,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Passengers not briefed,
- Emergency card instructions not correct for exits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman S-2F-1 Tracker in Naples: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

MM144711

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sorrento - Naples

MSN:

672

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Naples-Capodichino Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Camaldoli located about 7 km short of runway 06 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Orazio Carbone,
Lt Gianfranco Aquili,
Lt Michelangelo Abbondante,
Lt Gaspare Aladino.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Poggiorsini: 27 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1972 at 2040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

I-ATIR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Naples - Bari - Brindisi

MSN:

10301

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

BM327

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

17420

Aircraft flight cycles:

23337

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Naples-Capodichino Airport at 2000LT on a flight to Brindisi with an intermediate stop at Bari-Palese Macchie Airport. While descending by night and limited visibility, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in an open field located in Poggiorsini, about 47 km southwest of runway 07 threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 27 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader off Catania: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-1A Trader

Operator:

Registration:

146037

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Naples - Sigonella

MSN:

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew reported his position to Naples ATC at 1400LT en route to Sigonella NAS near Catania, Sicily. Later, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Ionian Sea off Catania. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Mt Chelmos: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93090

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Izmir – Naples

MSN:

12963

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mt Chelmos

Peloponnese / Πελοπόννησος

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a flight from Izmir to Naples, Italy, and while cruising over the Peloponnese province, he failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Chelmos Mountain Range, some 50 km southeast of Patras. The wreckage was found two days later and four occupants were seriously injured while six others were killed.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F Tracker off Ischia Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

MM136742

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Naples - Naples

MSN:

651

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Naples-Capodichino Airport at 2330LT for a local training mission with a crew of four on board. While flying in the vicinity of Ischia Island, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bay of Naples. Two crew members were rescued while two others were killed, Lt Col Guido Meglio, pilot, and Lt Pier Francesco De Angelis.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount on Mt Somma: 45 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1964 at 2239 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

I-LAKE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Milan - Rome - Naples

MSN:

328

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

AZ045

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Alitalia Flight 045 departed Rome (FCO) at 21:10 GMT and climbed to a cruising altitude of FL70. At 21:32 the crew were cleared to descend to 5,000 feet and further down to 4,000 feet on its way to Naples (NAP). Last radio contact with the flight was at 21:37 when leaving the LD NDB for a direct visual approach. A wide turn on downwind leg caused the aircraft to enter a area of heavy showers. At 2139 the aircraft flew into Monte Somma, at an altitude of 610 m (2000 feet) on a 90° heading with a 20° left bank. Mt Somma is part of the Mt Vesuvius Mountain Range.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Delayed interruption of, or failure to interrupt, visual approach in the absence of minimum visibility conditions required for the type of manoeuvre involved;
- Abnormally wide initiation of down wind leg which brought the aircraft considerably south of the circuit for visual descent to the airport and along an unsafe path in relation to the terrain in the area;
- Inaccurate estimate of position of aircraft as a result of which the left turn manoeuvre was initiated too late for completion of the required manoeuvre.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F-1 Tracker off Ischia Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1962 at 2045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

MM148296

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Naples - Naples

MSN:

735

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Naples-Capodichino at 1740LT on a training mission. Following several circuits over the region, the aircraft suffered an engine failure in flight. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the sea about 32 km southwest of Ischia Island. A crew member was rescued while three others were killed.
Crew:
Lt Gaetano De Rosa, pilot,
Lt Franco Noli, †
Cpt Pietro Pranzini, †
Maj Emanuele Cassano. †

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Colle San Magno: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1962 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Guidonia – Naples

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Guidonia AFB at 1120LT bound for Naples-Capodichino Airport with a crew of two on board. While cruising in low visibility due to fog, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Colle Noce located in Colle San Magno. The wreckage was found 400 meters below the summit and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mar Alberto Antellini, pilot,
Sgt Giuseppe Lenza, copilot.

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