Rome - Palermo

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.