Athens – Nice
Flight / Schedule
Athens – Nice
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
ZS-BYX
MSN
12587
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
Pan African Air CharterDate
December 31, 1948 at 05:52 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Monte Argentario Tuscany
Region
Europe • Italy
Coordinates
42.4074°, 11.1504°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 31, 1948 at 05:52 PM, Athens – Nice experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Pan African Air Charter, with the event recorded near Monte Argentario Tuscany.
The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
13 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 8, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. While flying over the Ligurian Sea en route from Athens to Nice, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Rome-Ciampino. The aircraft overflew the Orbetello lagoon and then went through low clouds when it hit the slope of a mountain located near Monte Argentario. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed. The airplane was performing a charter flight on behalf of the British operator Scott Gordon Aviator.
Aircraft reference details include registration ZS-BYX, MSN 12587, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.4074°, 11.1504°.
Fatalities
Total
13
Crew
5
Passengers
8
Other
0
Crash Summary
While flying over the Ligurian Sea en route from Athens to Nice, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to divert to Rome-Ciampino. The aircraft overflew the Orbetello lagoon and then went through low clouds when it hit the slope of a mountain located near Monte Argentario. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed. The airplane was performing a charter flight on behalf of the British operator Scott Gordon Aviator.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
8
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 13
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Athens – Nice
Operator
Pan African Air CharterFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Italy
Aircraft Details
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