Region
Europe

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Stromboli: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
I-SUTO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan
MSN:
30024
YOM:
1937
Location:
Stromboli
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While overflying the Tyrrhenian sea by night on a night flight from Catania to Rome, the crew was unaware that his altitude was insufficient and did not sea the volcano Stromboli. The three engine aircraft hit the south slope of the Stromboli volcano and was totally destroyed. First rescuers arrived on the scene the next morning and all 14 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75C in Aiello Calabro: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1940 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75
Operator:
Registration:
I-LEAL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rhodes - Catania – Brindisi – Rome
MSN:
32031
YOM:
1939
Location:
Aiello Calabro
Calabria
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On the leg from Catania to Brindisi, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC he was encountering severe icing conditions. In fog and low overcast, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located in Aiello Calabro, southwest of Cosenza. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Angelo Negri, pilot,
Gaetano Montello, copilot,
Basile Valassiadis, copilot,
Dino Zoin, mechanic,
Pietro Clerici, flight engineer,
Guido Avon, steward.
Passengers:
Alfredo Dentice,
Guido Zacchetti,
Girolamo Casazza,
Eduardo Aleozer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fiat BR.20 Cigogna at San Damiano AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Fiat BR.20 Cigogna
Operator:
Registration:
MM21398
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
San Damiano AFB (Piacenza)
Emilia-Romagna
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at San Damiano AFB. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.501 Gabbiano in Tagliano: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
CRDA CANT Z.501 Gabbiano
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Tagliano
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While performing a night training exercice, the airplane crashed in hilly terrain located near Tagliano. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte on Piz Cengalo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-AVFB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Milan
MSN:
5928
YOM:
1938
Location:
Piz Cengalo
Lombardy
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While overflying the Swiss Alps, the aircraft disappeared. As it failed to arrive in Milan, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few weeks later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 13 occupant was found. A mountain guide found the wreckage 14 years later, on 14 July 1952, on the slope of the Piz Cengalo located at the border between Italy and Switzerland, on the Italian territory. Few mail bags were recovered and returned to local authorities.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Macchi M.C.94 in Mornago: 15 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1938 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Macchi M.C.94
Operator:
Registration:
I-NILO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
94001
YOM:
1938
Location:
Mornago
Lombardy
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
All occupants were engineers and technicians of the Italian manufacturer Macchi Aeronautica. They were conducting a test flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Mornago, southwest of Varese. All 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Maranola: 19 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1938 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
I-MEDA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tirana – Rome
MSN:
30020
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
422
Location:
Maranola
Lazio
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
En route from Tirana to Rome, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in Maranela, northeast of Formia. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Venice

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
I-BEZI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Venice - Venice
MSN:
4062
YOM:
1935
Location:
Venice-Lido
Veneto
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from Venice-Lido Airport. While flying at full power, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed into the sea off the Lido coast. Both crewmen were injured and the aircraft sank.
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