Rome – Milan

On December 22, 1956 at 06:20 PM, Rome – Milan experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Linee Aeree Italiane - LAI, with the event recorded near Mt Giner Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

21 people were known to be on board, 21 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft, I-LINC, took off from Ciampino-Airport, Rome, at 1508Z on a VFR flight plan from Ciampino to Elba and an IFR plan from Elba to Milan-Malpensa along airways A3 and A9, which involve flight over the Elba, Genoa and Lombardia beacons. The cruising altitude was 10,500 feet. At 1520Z the flight plan was changed from VFR to IFR. The radio communications exchanged between the aircraft and Rome and Milan area controls were normal until approximately 1702Z when the aircraft confirmed that it was maintaining altitude 9,500 feet as instructed by Milan ACC. After 1714Z, attempts by Milan control to contact I-LINC were unsuccessful. The aircraft crashed at approximately 1720Z on the northern slopes of Monte Giner. All 4 crew members and 17 passengers were killed instantly.

Aircraft reference details include registration I-LINC, MSN 9101, year of manufacture 1943.