Italy | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Rome on a flight from Frosinone, the crew encountered engine problems. The captain decided to divert to Centocelle Airport, but on final approach, the aircraft crashed short of runway threshold and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Rome

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1948 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

NC75402

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cairo – Tatoi – Rome

MSN:

4523

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Cairo, Egypt, to Rome, with an intermediate stop at Tatoi AFB in Greece. For unknown reason, the aircraft went out of control upon landing in Ciampino Airport and came to rest. All seven occupants were rescued, three of them were seriously injured including both pilots.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III on Montecristo Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

TX269

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Luqa - Saint Mawgan

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located on the Island of Montecristo. All seven crew members were killed. They were performing a flight from Malta-Luqa to RAF Newquay-Saint Mawgain, Cornwall.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Segni: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1948 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Operator:

Registration:

MM21311

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Guidonia - Guidonia

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a test flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Segni, about 40 km southeast of Guidonia airbase. Two crew members were injured while the pilot Antonio Biscardi was killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Rome: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1948 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

SOMACO

Registration:

NC79822

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Brussels – Rome – Tel Aviv

MSN:

527

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 delivery flight from Brussels to Tel Aviv via Rome-Urbe Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered an explosion and crashed near the runway end. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. The crew consisted of Leonard Cohen and George Frederick Beurling, a Canadian pilot, hero from WWII.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the authorities did not exclude the hypothesis that a bomb was placed on board the aircraft.

Crash of a Martin 187 Baltimore in Guidonia: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1948 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin 187 Baltimore

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Guidonia – Frosinone

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Guidonia. A crew member (observer) was killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Martin 187 Baltimore in Guidonia AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1948 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin 187 Baltimore

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Guidonia - Guidonia

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Guidonia AFB, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. Unable to gain height, the aircraft hit power cables and crashed in flames in a field located three km southeast of the airport, near Tivoli. The radio navigator was seriously injured while both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Gianni Colaprete, pilot,
Mar Teodoro Tagliabue, copilot,
Mr. Borelli, radio navigator.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine just after liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Collesalvetti: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1948 at 1340 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

I-REGI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Florence - Pisa - Rome

MSN:

4312

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was scheduled to fly from Florence to Rome but few minutes prior to departure, the operator decided to make an unscheduled stop in Pisa Airport to disembark passengers that were blocked in Florence due to a technical failure on the aircraft. Due to low clouds, the crew was forced to fly at low height from Florence to Pisa and apparently, the weather conditions dropped as the aircraft approached Pisa Airport. Descending from the south in poor visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed near the village of Collesalvetti, south of the airport. All three crew members and four passengers were killed while three other passengers were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

It is believed the accident was caused by successive errors on part of the crew, causing the aircraft to be too low and off track at the time of the accident. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions should be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2 off Locri

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1948

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

G-AJHL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

04043

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ionian Sea off Locri, Calabria. All occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 near Viterbo

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1948

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

VT-CQA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4077

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 England to India to deliver the aircraft that was brand new. While descending to Rome for a refueling stop, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Urbanu located in the region of Viterbo. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.