Rome - Palermo
Flight / Schedule
Rome - Palermo
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8Registration
I-DIWB
MSN
45625/144
Year of Manufacture
1961
Operator
Alitalia - Linee Aeree ItalianeDate
May 5, 1972 at 10:24 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Palermo-Punta Raisi Sicily
Region
Europe • Italy
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On May 5, 1972 at 10:24 PM, Rome - Palermo experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane, with the event recorded near Palermo-Punta Raisi Sicily.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
115 people were known to be on board, 115 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 108, passenger fatalities: 108, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, the crew started the approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi by night. The four engine airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Longa (600 meters high) located 7 km south of the airport, west of the village of Carini. It was determined that the aircraft struck the mountain just few meters below its summit and disintegrated on impact. All 115 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to 5 km with clouds down to 1,500 feet.
Aircraft reference details include registration I-DIWB, MSN 45625/144, year of manufacture 1961.
Fatalities
Total
115
Crew
7
Passengers
108
Other
0
Crash Summary
Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, the crew started the approach to Palermo-Punta Raisi by night. The four engine airplane was too low and struck the slope of Mt Longa (600 meters high) located 7 km south of the airport, west of the village of Carini. It was determined that the aircraft struck the mountain just few meters below its summit and disintegrated on impact. All 115 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to 5 km with clouds down to 1,500 feet.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
108
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 115
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Rome - Palermo
Operator
Alitalia - Linee Aeree ItalianeFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Italy
Aircraft Details
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