Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 Douglas DC-8-43 in Palermo: 115 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1972 at 2224 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-8

Operator:

Registration:

I-DIWB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rome - Palermo

MSN:

45625/144

YOM:

1961

Flight number:

AZ112

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

108

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

115

Captain / Total flying hours:

8565

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3117

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, the crew started the approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi by night. The four engine airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Longa (600 meters high) located 7 km south of the airport, west of the village of Carini. It was determined that the aircraft struck the mountain just few meters below its summit and disintegrated on impact. All 115 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to 5 km with clouds down to 1,500 feet.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the minimum descent altitude. The lack of visibility caused by adverse weather conditions remains a contributing factor, as well as poor IFR operation on part of the crew. Also, it was reported that the crew failed to follow some of ATC instructions.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 near Frosinone: 18 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1972 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

I-ATIP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rome - Foggia

MSN:

10251

YOM:

1964

Flight number:

BM392

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20461

Aircraft flight cycles:

26490

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Rome to Foggia, the airplane lost 1,200 feet while its speed dropped 30 knots. It nosed down to 20° then crashed at a speed of 340 knots in an open field located near Frosinone, about 75 km southeast of Rome. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 18 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying in a thunderstorm area.
Crew:
Paolo Lombardino, pilot,
Vittorio Pedemonte, copilot,
Clemente Basile, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, based on the flight recorder analysis, it is believed that the loss of control was caused by severe atmospheric turbulences associated with thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Hawker Siddeley HS.780 Andover C.1 in Siena: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Hawker Siddeley HS.780 Andover C.1

Operator:

Registration:

XS609

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Siena - Pisa

MSN:

SET16

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Siena-Ampugnano Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane banked right and crashed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. The airplane was enroute from Siena to Pisa, carrying paratroopers from the 46th Squadron (Falcons).

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine shortly after liftoff.

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 Convair CV-440-11 Metropolitan in Trieste

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Operator:

Registration:

YU-ADV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Zagreb - Trieste

MSN:

429

YOM:

1957

Location:

Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari

Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All 22 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130K Hercules off Pisa: 52 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1971 at 0540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

XV216

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pisa - Pisa

MSN:

4243

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

Chalk 4

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Hercules was involved in a combined exercise called 'Cold Stream' between British and Italian Army under call sign 'Chalk 4', and was carrying 46 Italian paratroopers and six British crew members to the Villacidro dropzone located in Sardinia. Shortly after takeoff from Pisa-San Giusto Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 7 km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and none of 52 occupants survived the crash. The assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of an in-flight structural failure was not ruled out.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F Tracker at Sigonella NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

MM133100

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sigonella - Sigonella

MSN:

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sigonella NAS, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. A crew member was seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
Lt Giovanni Attanasio, †
Lt Carmello Basile, †
Salvatore Mantella, †
Sgt Angelo Pozzi.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross into Lake of Bracciano: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1971 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

MM50-175

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lake of Bracciano - Lake of Bracciano

MSN:

G-63

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Lake of Bracciano for a local training flight. En route, an engine failed. Speed was lost and the airplane stalled and crashed into the lake, few dozen yards offshore. A crew member, Cpt Angelo Natale, was killed, while two other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reason.