Country
Italy
code

Campania

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 11 near Ravello: 21 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1947 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg
Registration:
SE-BNG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Addis-Ababa – Cairo – Catanie – Rome – Stockholm
MSN:
12792
YOM:
1946
Location:
Ravello
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Stockholm with a crew of four and 21 Swedish pilots who delivered Saab B-17 to the Ethiopian Army in Addis-Ababa. It left Catania Airport at 1428LT bound for Rome. After passing over the Island of Stromboli, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thick clouds. To avoid this area, the crew modified his route but few minutes later, while flying at an insufficient altitude of 1,040 meters in poor visibility, the aircraft hit tree tops located on the Mt Cerro near Ravello. The captain tried to avoid a ground collision so he increased engine power and attempted a 180 turn when the left wing hit the Santa Maria del Monte Peak. The aircraft crashed in flames and was destroyed. Four occupants were rescued while 21 others were killed.
Probable cause:
There is no reason to believe that the engines or instrument were not operating normally. The cause of the accident must have been the pilot's failure to realize that his aircraft was in mountainous territory. The surviving passengers could not give an account of what happened immediately prior to the accident as they all were asleep when it occurred.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK Dakota C.4 on Ischia Island: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KK122
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hassani – Rome – Northolt
MSN:
15131/26576
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ischia Island
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Enroute from Hassani Airbase, Egypt, to Northolt, with an intermediate stop in Rome, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility, the crew did not realize he was off track when the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Epomeo (787 meters high) located in the center of the Ischia Island. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Lt Frederick Thompson Bruce, pilot,
David Paton, copilot,
Frank George Lewis, navigator.
Passengers:
Reginald Charles Arthur Bawler,
Sgt Eric William Rowe,
Mrs Cicely U. R. Pay,
Mr Simon Pay,
Pvt Edmund James Dilley,
Pvt William Malone,
Lt Cdr Leonard Ernest Scotchbrook,
Lt Col W. G. H. Miles,
Mr Thomas Simon Coates Gill.
Mr Aghanur Harouthunian.

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

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1946 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
44-9078
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cairo – Rome
MSN:
27304
YOM:
1944
Location:
Amalfi
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
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
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KN834
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Sassano
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
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-47B-20-DK in Pomigliano AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49912
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27173/15728
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pomigliano AFB
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Cpl Samuel R. Johnston,
F/O Arvid M. Weidman.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK near Naples: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-92707
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tarquinia – Naples
MSN:
12537
YOM:
1944
Location:
Naples
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Naples, while performing a flight from Tarquinia, killing all 11 occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Robert R. Baster,
Tech Louis M. Bice,
T/Sgt Paul L. Cloney,
1st Lt Harold G. Ginter,
Sgt Harold P. Kuruzar,
1st Lt Chester L. Nelson,
Cpl Albert H. Olin,
2nd Lt Robert W. Saxton,
Tech Arthur D. Steiner,S
2nd Lt Robert Vallandingham,
2nd Lt Howard P. Wilson.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Avellino: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1944 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15153
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Naples – Foggia – Ramitelli
MSN:
19619
Location:
Avellino
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Naples-Capodichino Airport at 0800LT bound for Ramitelli AFB, with an intermediate stop in Foggia. Some thirty minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and the visibility was low. Suddenly, the captain saw a mountain ahead of him and attempted to gain height. Unfortunately, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Nine passengers were killed while all 13 other occupants, among them all four crew members, were injured.
Crew (436th TCG):
Lt Howard B. Wank, pilot,
Lt Marvin Butz, copilot,
S/Sgt Charles T. Taylor, radio operator,
Sgt Raymond H. Kelley, crew chief.
Passengers who were killed:
PFC Walker Dozier,
PFC Morgan Fairfield Jr,
T/Sgt James A. Gaston,
PFC Theodore Harrison,
Sgt James C. Wyatt,
PFC Earnest Hill,
PFC William L. Hill,
PFC Loney Portee,
Sgt James A. Wright.
Source: http://www.1943salerno.it/ritrovamenti/36-il-dakota.html

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 off Capri Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1940 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75
Operator:
Registration:
I-LIGO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Catania – Rome
MSN:
32035
YOM:
1939
Location:
Capri Island
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Catania to Rome, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter and crashed in the sea some 40 nautical miles southwest of Capri Island. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a RAF fighter.

Crash of a Supermarine Air Yacht off Positano

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Air Yacht
Operator:
June Jewell James
Registration:
G-AASE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1285
YOM:
1929
Location:
Positano
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Named 'Windward III', the seaplane was performing a flight from England to Egypt. While taking off from Positano, the floatplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. The passenger suffered a broken leg while both crew members were uninjured. As the aircraft was not repairable, it was later scrapped. The exact circumstances of the accident remain unknown.

Crash of a CAMS 53/1 off Naples

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1932
Type of aircraft:
CAMS 53
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJLJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Marseille – Naples – Beyrouth – Saigon
MSN:
23
YOM:
1930
Location:
Naples
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the seaplane landed hard in the Naples' harbor. The fuselage broke and water entered the cabin. All six occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft named 'Picardie' sank and was lost.
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