Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Latina

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61749
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6955
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D near Amatrice: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1960
Operator:
Registration:
43-48899
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Aviano – Gioia del Colle
MSN:
14715/26160
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the airplane struck the west slope of Monti della Laga located near Amatrice. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jess Edward Montgomery, pilot,
Cpt Albert Joseph Henrion, copilot,
Sgt Elmer Arthur Kludt, radio operator,
Cdt Frantz Egidy.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas on Mt Argentera: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
GA+249
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nuremberg – Stuttgart – Torino
MSN:
60
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Argentera (3,297 meters high) located in the Italian Alps. The wreckage was found a week later, on March 22 on the west slope of the mountain. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigation error.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Botricello

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1960 at 1830 LT
Operator:
Registration:
53-8152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Athènes-Naples
MSN:
255
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Athens to Naples, one of the engines suffered a runaway prop. 15 passengers and the radio operator bailed out over Botricello, intending to land at a nearby emergency field. They couldn't make the field and the pilots and the engineer put the plane down intact on the beach. The slanted beach caused them to veer into the surf and the aircraft ended up in about 10 feet of water. The crew was able to exit the astrodome hatch and swim to shore. Overnight the action of the tide destroyed the aircraft. The rumors that the aircraft was repaired, flown off the beach and put back in service are untrue.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1953.html

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Brindisi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1960
Operator:
Registration:
MM61770
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Brindisi Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed into the sea few dozen yards off shore. SAR were conducted but eventually suspended three days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was finally located in a depth of 18 meters about 1,8 km off shore.

Crash of a Vickers 785D Viscount in Rome: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1959 at 0816 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-LIZT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rome - Rome
MSN:
378
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The Viscount was being used for a semi-annual flight crew check involving a simulated two engines out emergency landing. The aircraft was approaching Ciampino runway 16R with engines number 3 and 4 out when it suddenly went into a right bank, some 400 meters short of the runway threshold. The Viscount struck the ground with the right wingtip, crashed and burned. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to a balked landing manoeuvre carried out below the speed limits for safe directional control of the aircraft during a critical situation that developed in the last phase of the landing in the course of a simulated emergency exercise with two power units inoperative (number 3 & 4) and two operative (number 1 & 2).

Crash of a Lockheed L-1649 Starliner near Milan: 68 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1959 at 1735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7313C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Athens – Rome – Milan – Paris – Shannon – Gander – Chicago
MSN:
1015
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
TW891
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
68
Captain / Total flying hours:
25514
Captain / Total hours on type:
682.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12150
Copilot / Total hours on type:
76
Aircraft flight hours:
6671
Circumstances:
About fifteen minutes after it departed Milan-Malpensa Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed the airplane was hit by lightning when the right wing broke off shortly later. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a field located 32 km northwest of Milan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 68 occupants have been killed.
More info on https://www.olgiateolona26giugno1959.org/cra_e.html
Probable cause:
The breaking-up in flight was due to the explosion of the fuel vapours contained in tank No.7, followed immediately by either an explosion of pressure or a further explosion in tank no.6. In the absence of other significant concrete evidence, taking into account the stormy weather conditions, with frequent electric discharges, existing in the area at the time of the crash, it may be assumed that the explosion of the fuel vapours contained in tank No.7 was set off, through the outlet pipes, by igniting of the gasoline vapours issuing from these pipes as a consequence of static electricity discharges (streamer corona) which developed on the vent outlets.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-8 in Naples: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959 at 1620 LT
Operator:
Registration:
17241
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples – Luqa
MSN:
43343
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a farmland. Three passengers and one worker on the ground were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. US Navy personnel and family members were on their way to Malta.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Velletri: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61737
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Guidonia – Latina
MSN:
6973
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Guidonia AFB in the morning on a short flight to Latina Airbase located about 50 km south of Guidonia. While approaching Velletri, the crew encountered foggy conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Artemisio and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while two other passengers were injured.
Crew:
Lt Elio Pertone, pilot, †
1st Lt Pellegrino Di Troia, copilot. †
Passengers:
S/Sgt Matteo Laganà, †
S/Sgt Antonio Calzolaro,
Angelo Della Nova .

Crash of an Avro 688 Super Trader 4B in Brindisi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959 at 0609 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGRG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1255
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from England to Australia and made an intermediate stop at Brindisi Airport. The aircraft started the takeoff from runway 32 and swerved left off the runway after a 550 m ground run. Rough terrain caused the left landing gear leg to be torn off. The plane came to rest at 820 m past the runway threshold and burst into flames. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Strong crosswinds with gusts and the ground condition on the edge of the runway.