Country
Italy

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Brindisi: 27 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
MM60513
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5
Location:
Brindisi
Apulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane was used by the Regia Aeronautica to transfer troops in the Mediterranean area. Shortly after takeoff from Brindisi, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed. All 27 occupants, three crew members and 24 soldiers, were killed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – London
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Location:
Arques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Brussels on a mail flight to London on behalf of the RAF 271st Squadron. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak. The mechanic bailed out and survived while both pilots were killed when the aircraft crashed in an open field.
Crew:
P/O John Robertson McLaren, pilot, †
Victor Moreau, pilot, †
Armand Peeters, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

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.73 in Olías: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
I-IESI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sevilla - Melilla
MSN:
30036
YOM:
1937
Location:
Olías
Andalusia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
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.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Heliopolis

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
I-ATRI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Benghazi – Héliopolis
MSN:
30018
YOM:
1936
Location:
Heliopolis
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Heliopolis, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed. There were no casualties but two crew members were seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Soest: 20 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1938 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Düsseldorf – Berlin
MSN:
4
YOM:
1936
Location:
Soest
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On the leg from Düsseldorf to Berlin, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet in fog and rain, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Vanden Eynde, pilot,
André Edmond Moulin, copilot,
Josef Baus, radio operator,
Charles Deleusse, engineer.
Passengers:
Friedrich Luther,
Ernst Maurach,
Walter Kappes,
Mrs. Walter Kappes and three children,
Paul Ullmann +8.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. There was speculation that a propeller may have broken, tearing loose an engine, or that the pilot may have attempted a sudden pullout from a rapid descent, the manoeuvre over stressing a wing and causing its failure.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Oberkirch: 17 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1938 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OK-BAG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Prague – Strasbourg – Paris
MSN:
30040
YOM:
1937
Location:
Oberkirch
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The approach to Strasbourg Airport was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions. While descending, the three engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Oberkirch, some 22 km east of Strasbourg. The stewardess was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants were killed. The following day, the only survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Karel Brabenec, pilot,
Bedřich Soukup, copilot,
Alois Krahulec, navigator,
M. Krautnerová, stewardess.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in fog.

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 Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Wadi Halfa: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1937 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
I-SUSA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rome - Cairo - Wadi Halfa - Asmara - Addis Ababa
MSN:
30014
YOM:
1936
Location:
Wadi Halfa
Northern (الشمالية)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wadi Halfa Airport at night, the crew initiated a go around procedure for unknown reasons. The three engine airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. All eight occupants. were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Mondi, pilot,
Mr. Gallatti, copilot,
Mr. Damiani, engineer,
Mr. Carcavallo, radio navigator.
Passengers:
Mr. Blanetti,
Mr. Tavoletti,
Mr. Cohen,
Mrs. Lucienne Pottier.

Sincere thanks to Mr. Frédéric Thomas, son of Mrs. Pottier.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Tatsfield: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1935 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
30004
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tatsfield
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew initiated the descent to Croydon at sunset. The visibility was poor due to a cloud ceiling down to 100 metres. Too low on approach, the three engine aircraft impacted tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located in Tatsfield, some 13 km southast of Croydon Airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jean Schroonbroodt, pilot,
Jean Desmet, radio navigator,
Alphonse Verbinnen, engineer,
Raymond Strechfuss, steward.
Probable cause:
It was concluded by the UK Accidents Investigation Branch that the pilot, who did not request bearings from the airport and tried to navigate on his own, had descended out of the clouds prematurely, apparently uncertain of his position. He then must have initiated a steep climbing turn to the left to avoid the surrounding hilltops or after realizing that the visible lights were in fact those of Biggin Hill Aerodrome, not Croydon. During the evasive manoeuvre, the SM.73 apparently lost flying speed and stalled, resulting in an uncontrolled descent. And after the stall, some of the passengers may have been thrown forward, causing a weight distribution imbalance that would have hindered the ability of the pilot to regain control. No evidence was found of any prior mechanical or structural failure in the aircraft.
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