Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Technicians were engaged in ground tests at Malpensa Airport. While parked on the ramp, an engine run-up was initiated when the airplane jumped over the chocks and eventually struck obstacles and came to rest. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 off Palermo: 108 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1978 at 0039 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

I-DIKQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rome - Palermo

MSN:

47227

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

AZ4128

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

124

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

108

Captain / Total hours on type:

418.00

Copilot / Total hours on type:

173

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Fiumicino, the crew started the descent to Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport by night and good visibility (up to 10 km). Following a 'normal' VOR/DME approach, the crew continued the descent down to 150 feet over the sea when, at 3 km from the shore, the pilot-in-command (the copilot in this case) initiated a slight turn to the left to join runway 21. At a speed of 150 knots, the left wing tip struck the water surface and the aircraft crashed into the sea. All five crew members and 103 passengers were killed while 21 others were rescued by fishermen.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the last portion of the approach was completed in visual mode with a relative low rate of descent. The approach was started prematurely and the crew descended below the minimum descent altitude after several points of the approach checklist have been missed. It is possible that the crew have been misled by the malfunction of one or more altimeters due to an erroneous indication of the warning flag. Douglas and Collins informed Alitalia in 1975 already about the possible malfunction of those altimeters and their respective warning flag systems.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Leonessa: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1978 at 1245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

Operator:

Air 70

Registration:

I-ASCN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Trieste - Rome - Algiers

MSN:

421C-0054

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Airport at 1045LT on a charter flight to Algiers with two pilots and eight passengers, a delegation of the Icomsa. An en route stop was planned in Rome and while cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck power cables and crashed on a house located in Leonessa, about 80 km northeast of Rome. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Carlo Rinauro,
Giuseppe Torrisi.
Passengers:
Giuseppe Pino Bottacin,
Armand Houzel,
Enzo Bandelloni,
Giulio Brunetta,
Adriano Brunetti,
Giovanni Indri,
Giampaolo Schvarcz,
Giuseppe Trapanese.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Milan: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Operator:

Registration:

F-BOXS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Toulouse - Milan

MSN:

421A-0047

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Milan-Linate Airport, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed on a road. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Learjet 35 off Palermo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 35

Operator:

Maniglia Costruzioni

Registration:

I-MCSA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rome - Palermo

MSN:

35-099

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi on a flight from Rome-Ciampino, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few km offshore. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-360C in Rome: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1977 at 0412 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

ET-ACD

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rome – Asmara – Addis Ababa

MSN:

19736/696

YOM:

1968

Location:

Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci

Lazio

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Rome to Addis Ababa with an intermediate stop in Asmara. After a night takeoff from runway 25 at Rome-Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to climb. At a height of about 7-8 meters, it struck tree tops then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 280 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants (three crew members and two security agents) were killed.

Probable cause:

It is possible that the accident may be the consequence of a mistake in the mass and balance calculation.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Genoa

Date & Time: May 28, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

I-JAKE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

9 14 14 18

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon touchdown at Genoa-Cristofo Colombo Airport, the airplane struck the runway surface with its left wing. Out of control, it continued to roll then overran and plunged into the sea. All four crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Pisa: 44 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1977 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

MM61996

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Pisa - Livorno

MSN:

4492

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

Vega 10

Location:

Pisa-San Giusto-Galileo Galilei (Arturo dell'Oro)

Tuscany

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a flight from Pisa to Livorno, carrying 38 cadets, one instructor and five crew members. Four minutes after takeoff from runway 04, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Serra (3,200 feet high) located 15 km northeast of the airport. The wreckage was found about 180 metres from the summit and all 44 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the horizontal visibility was estimated to be six km in haze with stratocumulus at 2,500 feet and altocumulus at 800 feet.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft was not following the correct track after departure. Due to clouds, the crew was unable to see the mountain and the assumption that the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation was not ruled out.

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 Learjet 24 in Bari

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Estramed

Registration:

I-AMME

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

24-310

YOM:

1975

Location:

Bari-Karol Wojtyla (Palese)

Apulia

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Bari-Palese Airport, while climbing, the airplane collided with gulls. Some of them were ingested by engine which lost power. The airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Bird strike during initial climb.

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