Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The four engine aircraft christened 'Helka' was performing a cargo flight, carrying 50 cows. After touchdown at Pisa-San Giusto Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in flames in a ditch. All four crew members were evacuated safely while only three cows were rescued, 47 others being killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Sprigno Saturnia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1952 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61691

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Naples – Guidonia

MSN:

7958

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Canale dello Stretto located near Sprigno Saturnia, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Ugo Filosa, pilot,
Mot Luigi Feroci, copilot.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Milan

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1951 at 2035 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

I-LUCK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

New York – Gander – Shannon – Milan – Rome

MSN:

43215

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the approach to Milan-Malpensa in low visibility due to foggy conditions. About eight km from the runway threshold, while flying at an insufficient height, the aircraft hit the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames in a field, broken in three. All 48 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and three passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to continue the ILS approach below the minimum descent altitude, causing the aircraft to struck the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Milan

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

I-LETR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

4686

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the departure for unknown reason and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Sulmona: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1951 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61706

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lecce – Guidonia

MSN:

7815

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft encountered severe icing conditions en route. The pilot Gen Giuseppe Gaeta ordered the passenger Lt Col Mario Maragnini to bail out while all three crew members remained seated in the cabin and were killed when the aircraft crashed in a field located near Sulmona.
Crew:
Gen Giuseppe Gaeta, †
Lt Alvise Andrich, †
Mar Giulio Trintinaglia. †
Passenger:
Lt Col Mario Magnanini.

Probable cause:

Icing.

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.506S off La Spezia

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1951

Type of aircraft:

CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone

Operator:

Sottocentro Soccorso Cadimare

Registration:

MM45497

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from La Spezia, the three engine seaplane crashed into the sea about three km south of the Palmaria Island. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Venice: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

MM61670

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rome – Padova

MSN:

8162

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Rome-Centocelle to Padova. While approaching Padova from the east, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Venice lagoon, off San Angelo Island, about 35 km east of Padova Airport. A crew member was killed while both other occupants were rescued.
Crew:
Col Antonio Ciachino, pilot,
Cpt Boschet, copilot, †
Ermanno Bassi.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer off Rome: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1951 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Operator:

Registration:

59884

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Udine - Rome

MSN:

59884

YOM:

1943

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 aircraft left Udine-Campoformido Airport at 1220LT on a one hour flight to Rome-Ciampino. While approaching the capital city from the sea, the airplane apparently suffered a loss of power and crashed into the sea off Fiumicino. Five crew members were rescued while seven others were killed. The aircraft broke in two while contacting water and sank. It is reported from another source that the accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Athens-Hellenikon Airport.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.95B in Civitavecchia: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1951 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.95

Operator:

Registration:

I-DALO

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Paris – Rome

MSN:

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft christened 'Ugolino Vivaldi' left Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1016LT Bound for Rome-Ciampino. At 1436LT, the crew informed ground about his position at an altitude of 6,500 feet north of Civitavecchia. While descending to Ciampino, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft was hit by lightning, dove into the ground and crashed near a railway road located 8 km north of Civitavecchia, about 75 km north of Ciampino Airport. A crew member and two passengers were seriously injured while 14 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was fire in flight, due to lightning striking the wing frame of the aircraft and igniting a mixture of air and petrol fumes in one of the wing panels or fuel tanks.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Montalto di Castro

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15110

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

19576

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located 8 km north of Montalto di Castro. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.