Rome - Warsaw

On December 17, 1991 at 05:49 PM, Rome - Warsaw experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane, with the event recorded near Warsaw-Okecie-Frederic Chopin Masovian Voivodeship (Mazowieckie).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

96 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 96 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 90, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While descending to Warsaw-Okecie Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. On final approach, the copilot suggested the captain to abandon the landing procedure and to initiate a go-around maneuver. The captain dismissed the copilot's suggestion, disengaged the autopilot system and continued the approach when visual contact with the ground was established at an altitude of 400 feet. In a nose-down attitude and at an excessive speed of 155 knots (about 25-30 knots above the recommended speed), the aircraft struck the runway 33 surface nose gear first. The aircraft bounced then veered off runway to the left, rolled on soft ground for about 860 metres and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. All 96 occupants were evacuated, among them three passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration I-RIBN, MSN 47339, year of manufacture 1969.