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Crash of a Macchi C.100 off Cagliari

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-PLUS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cagliari - Lido di Ostia
MSN:
4159
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine floatplane departed Cagliari on a flight to Lido di Ostia near Rome. Shortly after takeoff, it crashed for unknown reasons into the sea. There were no casualties among the occupants. The airplane was operated on behalf of Nucleo Comunicazioni Ala Littoria with the military registration MM60418.

Crash of a Macchi C.100 off Lido di Ostia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1941 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-PACE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lido di Ostia – Cagliari
MSN:
4158
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from the Lido di Ostia seaplane base, while climbing to a height of some 300 feet, the crew encountered a loss of power on one engine and the captain decided to return. On approach, after passing over the Tiber Estuary, the floatplane encountered atmospheric turbulences, stalled and crashed. Five occupants were killed. The airplane was operated on behalf of Nucleo Comunicazioni Ala Littoria with the military registration MM60419.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a CRDA CANT Z.506 Airone off Sicily

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-POLA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
299
YOM:
1936
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing an ambulance flight, the three engine airplane was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. The occupant's fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Breda Ba.44 in Pogradec

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-EURO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tirana - Tirana
MSN:
4304
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tirana Airport to proceed with an inspection of various airfields recently left by the Greek Army. En route, it was attacked by enemy fire and the crew made an emergency landing in a prairie. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

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

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1940 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-LIGO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Catania – Rome
MSN:
32035
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
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 Savoia-Marchetti SM.75C in Barcelona: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-LUPI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barcelona – Rome
MSN:
32038
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the three engine aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed on the runway, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were killed. The airplane was on its way back to Italy on behalf of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiane).
Probable cause:
On rotation, the cargo shifted to the rear, modifying the center of gravity and unbalancing the aircraft that went out of control and crashed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-SUTO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan
MSN:
30024
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
I-LEAL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rhodes - Catania – Brindisi – Rome
MSN:
32031
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
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 Junkers JU.52/3mlu on Mt Grosser Arber: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1939 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-BAUS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Rome – Venice – Munich – Berlin
MSN:
4063
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane was completing a flight from Rome to Berlin with intermediate stops in Venice and Munich, carrying 17 passengers and a crew of four. The aircraft departed Munich-Riem Airport at 1300LT bound for Berlin. A little more than an hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 metres, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds when the aircraft crashed on the slope of Mt Grosser Arber located 48 km northeast of Straubing. Five passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
Those killed were:
Dr. Alexander Schulz,
Irmgard Zeller,
Franz Gareis,
Wolfgang Eduard Zorrer,
Gerda Strebenz.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Olías: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-IESI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Sevilla - Melilla
MSN:
30036
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Sevilla to Melilla, the crew encountered limited visibility due to fog. Too low, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Olías, some 11 km northeast of Málaga. Two passengers were rescued while 15 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.