Linee Aeree Italiane - LAI

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Rome – Milan – Paris – Shannon – Gander – Boston – New York

MSN:

45075

YOM:

1956

Flight number:

LAI451

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Circumstances:

After liftoff from runway 26 at Paris-Orly Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, hit successively two houses, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion about 600 meters past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris were scattered for about 200 meters. A passenger was seriously injured while all 34 other occupants, among them the Italian Director Guido Cantelli, were killed.

Probable cause:

The Commission was unable to find any malfunctioning of the aircraft or its equipment which would make it possible to determine why the aircraft followed the observed flight path. The Commission, therefore, believes that:
- the aircraft's slight loss of altitude soon after take-off was the main cause of the accident. There is no explanation for this loss of altitude,
- although the regulations in force were observed, the presence of unmarked obstructions in the take-off path constituted an aggravating factor,
- the initial and direct cause of the accident remains unknown.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in New York: 26 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1954 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

I-LINE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Rome – Milan – Paris – Shannon – Gander – Boston – New York

MSN:

44418

YOM:

1954

Flight number:

LAI451

Location:

New York-Idlewild

New York

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14734

Captain / Total hours on type:

3356.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

7546

Copilot / Total hours on type:

3670

Aircraft flight hours:

1424

Circumstances:

After an uneventful instrument flight involving no Air Route Traffic Control routing and control, Flight 451 reported at 1122 to the Idlewild Approach Control as being aver the Mitchell Radio Range Station at 7,000 feet. The flight was then cleared to enter the Scotland holding pattern (located approximately 13 nautical miles southwest of the airport) and was subsequently "laddered down" to the number one position to approach. Between 1147 and 1159 weather conditions deteriorated below the ceiling minimum of 400 feet for landing on runway 22, the runway then in use. The flight continued to hold. At 1159 reported weather conditions improved and I-LINE was cleared for an approach to runway 22 using the back course of the ILS (Instrument Landing System). At 1218 the flight reported it had discontinued this approach. It was then issued missed-approach instructions and returned to the Scotland holding pattern. Shortly thereafter weather conditions were again reported below minimums for runway 22. They were then reported as: Ceiling 300 feet, broken, 2,500 feet, overcast; visibility 2-1/2 miles, light rain and fog; wind south-southeast 20 knots. While holding, the flight was asked by Approach Control if it would be able to make an approach to runway 4, the ILS runway, considering the tailwind component. The flight accepted runway 4 and was cleared at 1307 for an ILS approach. At 1313 the tower was advised by 451 that the approach had been missed. The flight was next offered, and it accepted, a GCA (Ground Controlled Approach). This approach was abandoned at 1324, a missed-approach procedure was followed, and the flight returned to Scotland. At 1327 the Italian Airlines Station Manager, in a message relayed by the tower, asked the flight its remaining fuel, and received the reply that there was three hours of holding fuel. The Station Manager then suggested that the flight hold for 1-1/2 hours and if unable to land to proceed to Washington, D. C. At 1329 the flight acknowledged this message. At 1349 the flight was again cleared for an ILS approach, the third approach to runway 4 and its fourth to the airport. At approximately 1400 the aircraft struck the left pier. The impact was accompanied by a violent explosion and followed by an intense fire. Tower personnel immediately sounded the crash alarm and initiated emergency procedures. At the time of the accident weather conditions were reported as: Ceiling 200 overcast; visibility 2-1/2 miles, light rain and fog; wind south-southeast 16 knots. Italian Airlines' minimums for ILS approaches to runway 4 are ceiling 200 feet and visibility 1/2 mile. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 crew members and 16 passengers were killed, six others were injured.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an erratic approach which resulted in a descent to an altitude too low to avoid striking the pier. A contributing factor to this accident was pilot fatigue due to the particular and difficult circumstances. The following findings were reported:
- The flight made four instrument approaches to the Idlewild Airport, one to runway 22 and three to runway 4,
- The three approaches to runway 4 were made with a downwind component approximately 8 knots,
- There were no language difficulties between the flight crew and control personnel,
- Prior to the last approach weather and altimeter information was given the flight,
- The weather information was adequate for the normal ILS breakout area,
- Radar advisories were given the flight during the ILS approaches and during the last approach the flight was repeatedly advised that it was low with respect to normal ILS altitudes,
- The last approach was apparently made without using the ILS glide path,
- The radio navigational and landing facilities for the airport were functioning normally,
- When the aircraft struck the pier it was nearly level laterally, slightly nose-high, and without appreciable descent,
- Approximately 80 percent of the wreckage was recovered, the examination of which revealed no structural or mechanical failure of the power units, propellers, airframe, controls, or instruments prior to impact,
- The crew reported no mechanical or other difficulty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Rome

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1954 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

I-LENT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Rome - Rome

MSN:

4548

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Juts after liftoff, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crash landed on the runway. All four crew members who were involved in a local training mission were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure just after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Cagliari: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1953 at 1144 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

I-LAIL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cagliari – Rome

MSN:

4308

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after its takeoff from Cagliari-Elmas Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the Mt Sinnai located 15 km northwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing which detached in flight from its root. It is believed that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. Nevertheless, investigations were unable to establish if this was the result of a fault on part of the flying crew or if the aircraft encountered strong downdrafts or turbulences.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Milan

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1951 at 2035 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

I-LUCK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

New York – Gander – Shannon – Milan – Rome

MSN:

43215

YOM:

1950

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the approach to Milan-Malpensa in low visibility due to foggy conditions. About eight km from the runway threshold, while flying at an insufficient height, the aircraft hit the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames in a field, broken in three. All 48 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and three passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to continue the ILS approach below the minimum descent altitude, causing the aircraft to struck the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Milan

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

I-LETR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

4686

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the departure for unknown reason and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.95B in Civitavecchia: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1951 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.95

Operator:

Registration:

I-DALO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: