Venice | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Williamstown, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, snow falls and icing conditions. At an altitude of 8,000 feet, the left engine failed and the pilot continued the approach on one engine until he was forced to initiate a go-around manoeuvre. While in traffic pattern-circling, the airplane went out of control, stalled and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on approach. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Improper operation or failed to use anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Ice carburetor,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Low ceiling and snow,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Reported ram ice at 8,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53D Skytrooper in Porto Marghera: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

MM61832

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Flight number:

Argo 16

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Porto Marghera, near Venice. All four crew members were killed. They were apparently involved in a special mission on behalf of the Italian Secret Services.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Venice: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61670

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rome – Padova

MSN:

8162

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Rome-Centocelle to Padova. While approaching Padova from the east, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Venice lagoon, off San Angelo Island, about 35 km east of Padova Airport. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were rescued.
Crew:
Col Antonio Ciachino, pilot,
Cpt Boschet, copilot, †
Ermanno Bassi.

Crash of a Fiat G.18V off Venice: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fiat G.18

Operator:

Registration:

I-EURE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Belgrade - Venice

MSN:

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a schedule service from Belgrade to Venice with one passenger and four crew members on board. On final approach at night, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to mist. At a height of 100 feet, he initiated a left turn when the left wing tip impacted the water surface and the aircraft crashed into the sea. The wreckage was found the following morning at a distance of 500 metres from the shore. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Venice

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

T2807

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Mildenhall

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Mildenhall at 2130LT on an operation to Italy. It crashed in unknown circumstances off Venice. All six crew members were rescued and becake PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Richard Arthur Hodgson,
P/O Leslie Kenneth Sloan Wilson,
Sgt Leslie W. Hatherly,
Sgt E. E. Harding,
Sgt J. McAnally,
Sgt C. F. Pummery.

Crash of a Junkers F.13 in Grado: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Junkers F.13

Operator:

Registration:

I-BAJO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Venice - Trieste

MSN:

OTV/2

Location:

Grado

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Venice to Trieste, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm. The pilot apparently attempted to ditch the airplane off Grado when it impacted the harbor wall and crashed. The mechanic and a passenger were killed while the pilot and a second passenger were seriously injured.

Crash of an Avia BH-25J in Stolzalpe

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avia BH-25

Operator:

Registration:

OK-ABC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vienna - Venice

MSN:

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Vienna-Aspern Airport on a cargo flight to Venice with two crew members on board. En route, the pilot got lost due to snow falls. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a hilly terrain near Stolzalpe. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members walked away for two days before finding help.

Crash of a Junkers W.34b in Venice: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1930 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Registration:

I-AAMA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Venice - Venice

MSN:

2605

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Venice on a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, at low height, it stalled and crashed. A crew member was killed while two others were seriously injured.
Crew:
Riccardo Pasquali, pilot,
Gaetano Ferrari, engineer, †
Dr. Piccirilli, engineer.