Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan

While overflying the Tyrrhenian sea by night on a night flight from Catania to Rome, the crew was unaware that his altitude was insufficient and did not sea the volcano Stromboli. The three engine aircraft hit the south slope of the Stromboli volcano and was totally destroyed. First rescuers arrived on the scene the next morning and all 14 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan

Registration

I-SUTO

MSN

30024

Year of Manufacture

1937

Operator

Ala Littoria

Date

March 16, 1940 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Stromboli Sicily

Region

Europe • Italy

Coordinates

38.7930°, 15.2109°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On March 16, 1940 at 12:00 AM, Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan experienced a crash involving Savoia-Marchetti SM.73, operated by Ala Littoria, with the event recorded near Stromboli Sicily.

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

14 people were known to be on board, 14 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: 10, passenger fatalities: 10, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While overflying the Tyrrhenian sea by night on a night flight from Catania to Rome, the crew was unaware that his altitude was insufficient and did not sea the volcano Stromboli. The three engine aircraft hit the south slope of the Stromboli volcano and was totally destroyed. First rescuers arrived on the scene the next morning and all 14 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration I-SUTO, MSN 30024, year of manufacture 1937.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.7930°, 15.2109°.

Fatalities

Total

14

Crew

4

Passengers

10

Other

0

Crash Summary

While overflying the Tyrrhenian sea by night on a night flight from Catania to Rome, the crew was unaware that his altitude was insufficient and did not sea the volcano Stromboli. The three engine aircraft hit the south slope of the Stromboli volcano and was totally destroyed. First rescuers arrived on the scene the next morning and all 14 occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

10

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 14

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Tripoli – Catania – Rome – Milan

Operator

Ala Littoria

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Europe • Italy

Aircraft Details

Registration

I-SUTO

MSN

30024

Year of Manufacture

1937

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