Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV near Trigno

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN662
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16615/33363
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and the crew attempted to make an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a prairie located 8 km west of Trigno. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Udine

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH653
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, a tyre burst. The aircraft swung and went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Udine

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH566
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the undercarriage failed. The aircraft skidded on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage were not locked down and failed on landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-5-DO Skymaster off Amalfi: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1946 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-9078
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairo – Rome
MSN:
27304
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
While flying at cruising level off the Italian coast in poor weather conditions and under instrument flight rules, a fire erupted in the cockpit, on the left side of the captain. The crew tried to extinguish the fire but without success. The fire quickly spread and in such conditions, the crew decided to take refuge in the main cabin and helped the rest of the passengers to put their parachute in case they should abandon the aircraft. Unfortunately, this took time as the passengers did not received any preflight instruction about how to use a parachute. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and in fire, dove into the sea and crashed into the Gulf of Salerno, off Amalfi. On site, rescuers were able to evacuate eight people who survived: 4 passengers and all 4 crew members that were able to bail out before the crash. Unfortunately, all 30 other occupants were killed and the aircraft disintegrated on impact.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor but were not considered as a contributory factor. Investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the fire in the cockpit, maybe following an electrical short-circuit.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Sassano: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN834
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from England to South Africa with a crew of four and eight passengers, all South African Army Officers returning home. While cruising by night, both left engines stopped simultaneously. The crew was unable to restart the engine and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, no suitable terrain was available around his position. Flying at low height, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in flames in a field. Eleven occupants were killed while the captain was the only survivor.
Probable cause:
In flight, the crew proceeded to a fuel transfer from the auxiliary tanks to the main tanks. Apparently following a lack of coordination or a wrong interpretation of the situation, the crew forgot to stop the fuel transfer. As the fuel pump was not switched off, the tanks that were feeding both left engines became empty, causing these engines to fail.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK Dakota III in Anzio

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KG425
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12460
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Anzio and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Jesi

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH714
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the initial climb, both engines lost power simultaneously. The aircraft stalled, lost height, hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located about 1,5 km south of Jesi. All four occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on both engines shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-105-BO Flying Fortress near Picinisco: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1945 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-39197
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Marseille – Athènes
MSN:
10175
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Enroute, while cruising along the Italian shore, the crew encountered poor weather with severe icing conditions and told ATC he wanted to divert to Rome Airport. Later, while in poor visibility due to clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of Monti della Meta located few km northeast of the Picinisco village. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was located by walkers in May 1946. It is believed that the crew misjudged the icing severity and the flight was not properly prepared. Heavy cumulus were present from 1,200 up to 5,000 meters.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Palermo: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1945 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-24363
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Athens - Naples
MSN:
10225
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
About an hour prior to his scheduled arrival time in Naples, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to clouds. The radio navigator informed ground that he lost his orientation and he was unable to locate his position. The aircraft then deviated from the prescribed flight path by about 300 km to the southwest. Later, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 800 meters from the airport of Boccadifalco, west of Palermo. A passenger survived and was evacuated to a local hospital while 24 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, there were strato-cumulus at an altitude of 600 meters, fracto-cumulus at an altitude of 300 meters and 5 km visibility.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Cuneo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100829
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Neubiberg – Nice
MSN:
19292
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Cuneo, killing all 15 occupants.