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Crash of an ATR42-512 in Florence: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 30, 1997 at 1110 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GPYE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nice - Florence
MSN:
492
YOM:
1996
Flight number:
FU701
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
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.
- 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
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 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
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
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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
Schedule:
Florence - Pisa - Rome
MSN:
4312
YOM:
1941
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
Operator:
Registration:
MM60896
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Florence – Torino
MSN:
76
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.
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 A-26C-35-DT Invader near Darlington: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 12, 1945 at 1436 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-35553
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Florence - Florence
MSN:
7456
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,100 feet, the Invader collided with an Eastern Airlines DC-3 registered NC25647 and performing flight EA045 from Washington DC to Columbia with 20 passengers and a crew of four on board. Following the collision, the Invader went out of control and crashed in a field located near Darlington, some 12 miles northwest of Florence. Both crew members were killed. On his side, the crew of the DC-3 was able to make an emergency landing and one passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
On the basis of the evidence available at this time the Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of each pilot to see the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. Contributing factors were the DC3 pilot's deviation from the airway in the proximity of an active USAAF base and his lack of vigilance, and the Army-pilot's continuing a maneuver which restricted his vision in an area not set aside for such maneuvers.
Final Report:
