Naples – Genoa
Flight / Schedule
Naples – Genoa
Aircraft
Short S.8 CalcuttaRegistration
G-AADN
MSN
S748
Year of Manufacture
1928
Operator
Imperial AirwaysDate
October 26, 1929 at 06:00 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
La Spezia Liguria
Region
Europe • Italy
Coordinates
44.2384°, 9.6912°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On October 26, 1929 at 06:00 PM, Naples – Genoa experienced a crash involving Short S.8 Calcutta, operated by Imperial Airways, with the event recorded near La Spezia Liguria.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. Named 'City of Rome', the seaplane was performing an flight from Naples to Genoa, carrying five passengers and two crew members. While cruising along the Italian coast in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and elected to ditch the airplane in the sea, some 15 km off La Spezia. Upon landing, the airplane hit high waves and overturned, killing all seven occupants. While being towed by authorities, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Aircraft reference details include registration G-AADN, MSN S748, year of manufacture 1928.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 44.2384°, 9.6912°.
Fatalities
Total
7
Crew
2
Passengers
5
Other
0
Crash Summary
Named 'City of Rome', the seaplane was performing an flight from Naples to Genoa, carrying five passengers and two crew members. While cruising along the Italian coast in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and elected to ditch the airplane in the sea, some 15 km off La Spezia. Upon landing, the airplane hit high waves and overturned, killing all seven occupants. While being towed by authorities, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
5
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Naples – Genoa
Operator
Imperial AirwaysFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Europe • Italy
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Air Force - RAF
Handley Page H.P.12
The aircraft departed London on a flight to Cairo, carrying four crew members. In Paris, one passenger, Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence (awa Lawrence of Arabia) embarked to fly to Cairo after taking part to the 1919 Peace Conference in Paris. While approaching Rome-Centocelle Airport at dusk, the pilot encountered limited visibility and attempted a go-around procedure when the aircraft clipped a tree and crashed upside down. Both pilots were killed and three other occupants were injured. Crew: 2nd Lt Frederick George Prince, pilot, † 2nd Lt Sydney Spratt, pilot, † Aircraftman F. J. Daw +1. Passenger: Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence.
De Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service
De Havilland DH.9
Shortly after takeoff from Venice Airport, while climbing, the aircraft named 'Atlanta' crashed in the sea and sank. All four occupants were killed.
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.34
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. All occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.34
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All seven occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.34
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the aircraft suffered a technical problem, stalled and crashed in an open field located in Purley, some 2,4 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. SAR arrived quickly on the scene but it was impossible to rescue the eight occupants who were prisoner of the fire. The pilot and five passengers were British citizens, another was Brazilian and the last was a Chilean.
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.34
The aircraft was performing a special flight from Croydon to Newcastle to follow the 'King's Cup Air Race'. En route, while cruising over Durham County, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. As the pilot was unable to localize the destination, he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft impacted a ditch and came to rest against trees. While all seven occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
