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Crash of an ATR42-512 in Florence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1997 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GPYE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nice - Florence
MSN:
492
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
FU701
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
10000
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport on a regular schedule service to Florence, carrying 14 passengers and three crew members. On approach to Florence-Peretola Airport runway 23, the aircraft' speed was too high and after touchdown, it bounced several times and landed firmly 350 metres from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, went through fences and eventually collided with an embankment and came to rest on the emergency lane of the motorway Florence - Pisa. The aircraft broke in two and the cockpit was destroyed on impact. All 15 people seating in the main cabin (14 passengers and the stewardess) were evacuated with minor injuries while both pilots were seriously injured. Two days later, one of them died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Weather conditions were considered as good with light wind,
- The pilot acting as captain was flying on this route for the first time and this was also his first landing at Peretola Airport,
- Florence-Peretola Airport runway 23 is 1,650 metres long but has a displaced threshold, so the landing distance available is 1,030 metres only,
- The copilot was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. He was also a captain and could operate as an instructor,
- The approach configuration was incorrect since the aircraft's touchdown speed was 30 knots above the speed prescribed in the flight manuals,
- Failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure while the landing manoeuvre was obviously missed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T3-T1040 Cheyenne in Atlanta

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1984 at 1609 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N9193Y
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Florence - Atlanta
MSN:
31T-8275010
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3309
Captain / Total hours on type:
439.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1857
Circumstances:
The normal fuel load for the flight was 1,500 lbs, but with a forecast tail wind and an estimated flight time for only 1+10, the crew accepted the lower indicated (950 lb) fuel load. The flight was uneventful until an indication of 250 lbs per side, then the fuel 'seemed to dissipate faster.' With an indication of 150 lbs on downwind, the copilot recommended declaring an emergency. The captain's response was to ask ATC for the anticipated length of the downwind leg. He was told 20 miles. Priority handling was requested, but was only available for a declared emergency. The approach was continued with normal handling for approximately 10 minutes. At 1608:39, the crew declared an emergency, then reported the aircraft was out of fuel. It crash landed on rough terrain, short of runway 08. An exam revealed fuel sensors had been improperly installed (interchanged between the inboard and outboard tanks). Thus the gages indicated about 180 lbs more than the approximately 763 lbs that was actually aboard at takeoff. A special 500 hour inspection of the entire fuel system was made on 7/8/84 using the 'wet' method, but only the capacitance method checks each individual sensor. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. (f) fuel system - incorrect
2. (f) maintenance, installation - improper
3. (f) engine instruments, fuel quantity gage - false indication
4. Maintenance, inspection - inadequate
5. (f) procedure inadequate - manufacturer
6. (f) fluid, fuel - low level
7. (c) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
8. (c) remedial action - delayed - pilot in command
9. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
10. Fuel supply - inadequate
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
11. (f) terrain condition - rough/uneven
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Bern

Date & Time: May 27, 1979 at 1753 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HB-GCT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Florence - Geneva
MSN:
680-1634-29
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5120
Captain / Total hours on type:
420.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Florence-Peretola Airport on a charter flight to Geneva-Cointrin Airport, carrying six passengers and one pilot. While cruising over the Alps at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the pilot was cleared by ATC to divert to Bern-Belp Airport as he thought his fuel reserve was insufficient. On final approach to runway 32, the airplane was unstable. With an excessive rate of descent, the twin engine airplane struck the ground 29 meters short of the threshold of runway 32. Upon impact, the airplane went out of control and crash landed on runway. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all tanks have been refueled prior to departure at Geneva-Cointrin Airport for both legs as no fuel was available at Florence Airport. As a precaution, the pilot preferred to divert to Bern Airport for a safe landing. It was determined that both engines were running properly at impact, confirming that there was no fuel exhaustion. The accident was the consequence of an unstable approach completed with an excessive rate of descent in atmospheric turbulences. The rate of descent to runway 32 is fixed at 2° according to published procedures.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Collesalvetti: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1948 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
I-REGI
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Florence - Pisa - Rome
MSN:
4312
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was scheduled to fly from Florence to Rome but few minutes prior to departure, the operator decided to make an unscheduled stop in Pisa Airport to disembark passengers that were blocked in Florence due to a technical failure on the aircraft. Due to low clouds, the crew was forced to fly at low height from Florence to Pisa and apparently, the weather conditions dropped as the aircraft approached Pisa Airport. Descending from the south in poor visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed near the village of Collesalvetti, south of the airport. All three crew members and four passengers were killed while three other passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was caused by successive errors on part of the crew, causing the aircraft to be too low and off track at the time of the accident. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions should be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Fiat G.12CA in Torino: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1947 at 1826 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM60896
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Florence – Torino
MSN:
76
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Torino-Mirafiori Airport, the three engine crashed in flames on the Aeritalia hangar located near the airport. Both pilots were killed while three other occupants plus three people in the hangar were injured.
Crew:
Cpt Giulio Barattolo, pilot, †
Cpt Bruno Gazzi, copilot, †
Mar Pasquale Girometti,
Mot Marco Ferrando, mechanic,
Sgt Maj Genesio Saccucci, radio operator.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-201G near Florence: 22 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1945 at 0213 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC33631
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Jacksonville – Savannah – Raleigh – New York
MSN:
4137
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
EA042
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Captain / Total flying hours:
16390
Captain / Total hours on type:
6500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2492
Copilot / Total hours on type:
650
Aircraft flight hours:
17532
Circumstances:
Flight 42 departed Miami for New York City at 2122LT, September 6, 1945, with routine stops at Jacksonville and Savannah. Having obtained an instrument clearance from Airway Traffic Control to cruise at 5,000 feet to Raleigh, the flight departed Savannah at 0041, September 7, with Washington and Baltimore listed as alternates. At 0150 the flight transmitted a position report to the company station at Washington indicating that it had passed over Florence at 0144 at 5,000 feet. The flight was advised that Raleigh, its next scheduled stop, was reporting a 300 foot overcast. Since the weather at Raleigh was below authorized minimums, Flight 42 requested permission from the company dispatcher to proceed past Raleigh without landing. The station at Washington advised the flight at 0155 that it had been re-cleared to Washington with Baltimore as an alternate, but no acknowledgement of the message was received. At 0205, a radio transmission from Flight 42 was intercepted in which it was indicated that the pilot intended to return to Florence and that he desired clearance to lend at Florence Field. Because of the unusually severe radio interference, the entire message was not readable and no reason was apparent at that time for the pilot's decision to return to Florence. Several subsequent attempts by company, CAA and army stations in the vicinity to contact the flight were unsuccessful. While attempting to return to Florence the aircraft crashed at 0213 in a swampy, wooded area 6 miles ENE of Florence Army Air Filed. The wreckage was located at approximately 1040, September 7.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was fire of undetermined genesis in the rear cargo compartment or lavatory which resulted in the inability of the pilot to maintain altitude long enough to effect a landing.
Final Report: