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Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor off Palermo

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1955 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61666
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Palermo - Palermo
MSN:
8206
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Palermo-Boccadifalco Airport on a patrol flight, searching for cigarettes smuggling boat. In-flight, an unexpected situation forced the crew to ditch the aircraft at 1900LT about 70 km off Palermo. The aircraft sank and was lost while all four occupants were rescued at 2330LT.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Nairobi

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
MM61769
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that lost power. The captain decided to return for a safe landing but on approach, realized he could not make it. So he attempted an emergency landing when the airplane hit a tree and crashed in flames three km from the airfield. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of power on left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Vaccarizzo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1954 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM80061
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sigonella - Sigonella
MSN:
15-1329
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew (87th Squadron) was completing a local training sortie from Sigonella NAS. In unclear circumstances, the Harpoon collided in flight with a second Italian Air Force Harpoon registered MM80065 and carrying a crew of four. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Vaccarizzo, about 15 km south of Catania. The debris were found in a wasteland located less than a km from the beach. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon in Vaccarizzo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1954 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM80065
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sigonella - Sigonella
MSN:
15-1479
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew (87th Squadron) was completing a local training sortie from Sigonella NAS. In unclear circumstances, the Harpoon collided in flight with a second Italian Air Force Harpoon registered MM80061 and carrying a crew of five. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Vaccarizzo, about 15 km south of Catania. The debris were found in a wasteland located less than a km from the beach. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon into the Ionian Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1954 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM80059
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Catania - Catania
MSN:
15-1591
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission over the Ionian Sea when an engine failed in flight. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea about 72 km east of Punta Stilo, Calabria. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Breda-Zappata B.Z.308 in Mogadishu

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61802
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rome – Mogadiscio
MSN:
1
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the four engine aircraft collided with a cement truck and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was stored at Mogadishu Airport, not repaired and later scrapped. It was registered MM61802 (SM-5) and previously I-BREZ under civil registry.
Probable cause:
Collision with a ground vehicle after landing.

Crash of a Fiat G.212 in Rome

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1953 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61637
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rome - Rome
MSN:
11
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Rome-Centocelle Airport. On final, he decided to make a go around because another small plane was approaching the same airport. Doing so, the three engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a sandy area short of runway and eventually collided with a dyke. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Valmontone

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61651
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8418
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and two engineers) were completing a post maintenance test flight. En route, both engines failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in Valmontone. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 in Milan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61197
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Milan-Malpensa Airport, while in initial climb, the three engine aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all four crew members.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left wing shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Fiat G.212 in Rome

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MM61772
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15
YOM:
1948
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Rome-Urbe Airport, the aircraft suffered engine problems. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing in a wasteland. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine problems on approach.