Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was taking part to a SAR mission following the disappearance two days earlier of another USN Netpune. En route, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Granero (3,170 meters high) located near the French border, Piedmont. A crew member was rescued while nine others were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-6 on Mt Fradusta: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1957 at 1443 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

126535

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port Lyautey - Istrana

Location:

San Martino di Castrozza

Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While inbound to Istrana Airbase at Treviso, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Fradusta located three km southeast of San Martino di Castrozza. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Reggio de Calabre

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1957 at 1305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

I-LEDA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rome – Reggio de Calabre – Catania

MSN:

4411

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Reggio de Calabre Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck a perimeter wall and came to a halt. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-Dl on Mt Giner: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1956 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

I-LINC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rome – Milan

MSN:

9101

YOM:

1943

Location:

Mt Giner

Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft, I-LINC, took off from Ciampino-Airport, Rome, at 1508Z on a VFR flight plan from Ciampino to Elba and an IFR plan from Elba to Milan-Malpensa along airways A3 and A9, which involve flight over the Elba, Genoa and Lombardia beacons. The cruising altitude was 10,500 feet. At 1520Z the flight plan was changed from VFR to IFR. The radio communications exchanged between the aircraft and Rome and Milan area controls were normal until approximately 1702Z when the aircraft confirmed that it was maintaining altitude 9,500 feet as instructed by Milan ACC. After 1714Z, attempts by Milan control to contact I-LINC were unsuccessful. The aircraft crashed at approximately 1720Z on the northern slopes of Monte Giner. All 4 crew members and 17 passengers were killed instantly.

Probable cause:

The Commission concluded that the change in the route followed by the aircraft and the resulting accident may be attributed to the following:
- The pilot did not follow the airways assigned in the flight plan, which constitutes a violation of flight rules,
- He did not check his direction and position along the new route,
- Unfavorable weather conditions and drift existed,
- There was a possibility of error in the navigational instruments.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Catania: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Harpoon

Operator:

Registration:

MM80058

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Catania - Catania

MSN:

15-1449

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine caught fire and exploded. The airplane crashed in flames in a field located two km from the airport, killing all five crew members.

Probable cause:

Engine explosion after takeoff.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 in Milan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.82

Operator:

Registration:

MM60792

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff at Malpensa Airport, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Arborea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1956 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61674

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

8213

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed in Arborea, about 70 km northwest of Cagliari-Elmas Airport. All four passengers were seriously injured while both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Luigi Atzori,
Cpt Mauro Tavoni.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Istrana AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1956 at 2200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61742

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aviano – Vincenza

MSN:

7174

YOM:

1944

Location:

Istrana AFB (Treviso)

Veneto

Country:

Italy

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Aviano AFB to Vicenza, weather conditions deteriorated while approaching Treviso. Apparently, the pilot attempted to divert to Istrana AFB when control was lost in thunderstorm activity. The twin engine aircraft crashed in a field near the airbase and was destroyed, killing all four occupants.
Crew:
Mot Remo Beltrame.
Passengers:
Gen A. De Vincenti,
Col Dante Salvela,
Col Jacqueline Walter (USAF).

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon off Fiumefreddo

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Harpoon

Operator:

Registration:

MM80069

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Catania - Catania

MSN:

15-1036

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Catania-Fontanarossa Airport for a maritime patrol flight. Enroute, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft off Fiumefreddo di Sicilia. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Palermo

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1955 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61666

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Palermo - Palermo

MSN:

8206

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Palermo-Boccadifalco Airport on a patrol flight, searching for cigarettes smuggling boat. In-flight, an unexpected situation forced the crew to ditch the aircraft at 1900LT about 70 km off Palermo. The aircraft sank and was lost while all four occupants were rescued at 2330LT.