Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Catania

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1999 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-DAVN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples - Catane
MSN:
49435
YOM:
1988
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On short final to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport by night, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft became unstable. The captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure and increased power on both engines. Unfortunately, the aircraft continued to descent and struck the runway surface with a relative high positive acceleration. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on the runway for few hundred metres before coming to rest. All 84 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered windshear during the last portion of the flight.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV in OIbia

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1999
Registration:
I-NARC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AT-035
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a landing accident at Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport. Both pilots were uninjured.

Crash of an ATR42-312 in Alghero

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1998 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EI-COC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pisa - Alghero
MSN:
048
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
DRG111
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The encountered high winds on approach and landing at Alghero Airport. Upon touchdown on runway 03, the aircraft encountered unfavorable winds and floated before landing 750 metres past the runway 03 threshold. The aircraft landed hard, nose gear first. The aircraft bounced and landed firmly 1,300 metres further, to the right of the runway. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest after a distance of 400 metres. All 25 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, crosswinds were gusting up to 42 knots.

Crash of an ATR42-512 in Florence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1997 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GPYE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nice - Florence
MSN:
492
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
FU701
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
10000
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport on a regular schedule service to Florence, carrying 14 passengers and three crew members. On approach to Florence-Peretola Airport runway 23, the aircraft' speed was too high and after touchdown, it bounced several times and landed firmly 350 metres from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, went through fences and eventually collided with an embankment and came to rest on the emergency lane of the motorway Florence - Pisa. The aircraft broke in two and the cockpit was destroyed on impact. All 15 people seating in the main cabin (14 passengers and the stewardess) were evacuated with minor injuries while both pilots were seriously injured. Two days later, one of them died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Weather conditions were considered as good with light wind,
- The pilot acting as captain was flying on this route for the first time and this was also his first landing at Peretola Airport,
- Florence-Peretola Airport runway 23 is 1,650 metres long but has a displaced threshold, so the landing distance available is 1,030 metres only,
- The copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. He was also a captain and could operate as an instructor,
- The approach configuration was incorrect since the aircraft's touchdown speed was 30 knots above the speed prescribed in the flight manuals,
- Failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure while the landing manoeuvre was obviously missed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-124-100 in Torino: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1996 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-82069
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Moscow - Torino - Abu Dhabi - Bandar Seri Begawan
MSN:
977305591
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
SU9981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total hours on type:
431.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Chkalovsky Airport bound for Torino, carrying 19 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft should be loaded with Ferrari cars to be delivered in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, following a fuel stop at Abu Dhabi Airport. While descending to Torino-Caselle Airport, the crew was informed about the weather conditions at destination: wind variable at 3 knots, visibility 2,000 metres, RVR runway 36 more than 1,500 metres, light rain, scattered at 1,500 feet, scattered at 3,500 feet, broken at 7,000 feet, OAT and dew point 13°C, QNH 1012. On final approach to runway 36, the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway and the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Unfortunately, this decision was taken too late. While climbing, the aircraft struck trees and crashed onto houses located in the village of San Francesco al Campo, about one km from the runway end. The aircraft, a house and a barn were destroyed. Both pilots, two people on the ground and 20 cows in the barn were killed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Weather conditions were marginal,
- At the time of the accident, the runway length was 2,350 metres instead of 3,300 metres due to work in progress,
- The ILS CAT III system was inoperative during work in progress,
- The pilots were warned that the crew of an aircraft that landed on the same runway 36 about 11 minutes earlier established a visual contact with the runway at an altitude of 200 feet only,
- The crew continued the approach below MDA without establishing visual contact with the runway,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor approach planning,
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist,
- The crew did not divide up the tasks in a correct manner,
- The crew did not prepare for a possible go-around procedure,
- The decision of the captain to initiate a go-around procedure was taken too late,
- The crew encountered engine trouble after the power levers were suddenly moved,
- The relative low experience of the captain on this type of aircraft.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 in Lake Fanaco: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-CFSU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1074
YOM:
1985
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission and was supposed to land on Lake Fanaco to proceed to a scooping manoeuvre. For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard, causing the hull to rupture. The aircraft sank and was lost. A pilot was killed and the second was injured.

Crash of an Aeritalia G.222 in Pisa

Date & Time: May 31, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM62108
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4013
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few dozen metres then lost a wing and came to rest. all four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Verona: 49 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1995 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YR-AMR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Verona - Timișoara
MSN:
77303309
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
BZ166
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
49
Captain / Total flying hours:
3645
Captain / Total hours on type:
2345.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
7100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6500
Aircraft flight hours:
8913
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Timișoara, the aircraft landed at Verona-Villafranca Airport and remained parked for one hour on the ground. Weather conditions were as follow: wind 290° at 2 knots, horizontal visibility 1,300 metre, RVR 2,000 metres, haze and snow falls, overcast 500 feet, OAT 0° C, dew point below zero, QNH 1010. Despite snow falls, the crew decided to takeoff without proceeding to a pre-departure deicing/anti-icing of the aircraft. After liftoff from runway 23, the crew initiated a slight turn to the right heading 239° when 25 seconds later, the aircraft's speed dropped to 179 km/h. The crew selected elevator down so the speed increased to 185 km/h but when elevators were selected up again, the speed dropped to 155 km/h. The aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 67° then lost height and crashed in a field located 1,500 metres from the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 49 occupants were killed, among them 31 Italian businessmen, 4 Serbs and 14 Romanians including all crew membres. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operated by Banat Air and leased from Romavia.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb due to the loss of aerodynamic properties consequently to the decision of the crew to not proceed to any deicing or anti-icing procedure prior to departure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Excessive accumulation of snow and frost on wings, tail, elevators, stabs and fuselage,
- The crew underestimated and exercised poor judgment about weather conditions,
- The pilot-in-command probably suffered a spatial disorientation during initial climb because of the unusual attitude of the aircraft caused by the loss of aerodynamic properties, combined with snow falls, the lack of visibility due to the night and a possible optical illusion caused by the headlights on,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 2 tons above the MTOW,
- The weight & balance sheet could not be checked prior to takeoff because the crew failed to transmit such document that was not requested by ground personnel,
- A slight loss of power occurred on the right engine shortly after liftoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Campo dei Fiori: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1995 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GNFL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Milan - Locarno
MSN:
31-7400986
YOM:
1974
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after his departure from Milan-Malpensa Airport bound for Locarno, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to a cloud layer. The twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located at the altitude of 1,227 meters, on the Campo dei Fiori, on the top of Punta Paradiso, near the astronomic observatory. The pilot and the passenger were killed.
Pilot:
Cesare Gallone.
Passenger:
Yvonne Aliette Roulet.
Sincere thanks to Isaia Laudi for these information.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Genoa: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1993 at 1903 LT
Operator:
Registration:
I-STMO
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Olbia - Torino
MSN:
421B-0410
YOM:
1973
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Olbia to Torino-Caselle Airport, the pilot was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions and decided to divert to Genoa-Sestri-Cristoforo Colombo Airport. On approach, he was unable to establish on the localizer despite several attempts and finally initiated a go-around procedure. While circling in limited visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the pilot was not certified to fly in IMC conditions and his experience was limited.