Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled service originating from Turin-Caselle Airport (TRN) with a stopover at Rome Fiumicino (FCO). Although the flight number AZ045 began in Turin with 49 passengers, all passengers disembarked upon arrival in Rome at 8:20 PM. For the final leg to Naples, a new group of 40 passengers boarded, including 4 who had traveled from Turin and 36 who joined in Rome. After a delay in Rome to replace a turbine oil temperature indicator on the No. 1 engine, the aircraft departed for Naples at 10:10 PM. As the flight approached Naples, the crew was provided with a weather report indicating 6/8 cloud coverage and visibility of 6 km. Despite these marginal conditions, the crew declined an ILS approach, stating they had the runway in sight. While performing a visual descent, the aircraft entered a zone of heavy rain showers. The pilot initiated a downwind leg that was significantly wider than standard, placing the aircraft south of the safe circuit area. At 10:39 PM, while banking 20 degrees to the left in an attempt to turn toward the final approach, the Viscount struck the wooded slopes of Mount Somma. The investigation highlighted that the pilot, Pasquale Umana, may have been overconfident due to his extensive experience at Naples, leading him to persist with visual flight rules (VFR) when instrument flight rules (IFR) were necessary.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded the primary cause was the failure to interrupt a visual approach when minimum visibility conditions were not met. Contributing factors included an abnormally wide downwind leg that took the aircraft into unsafe terrain, an inaccurate estimate of the aircraft's position, and the influence of a westerly wind that drifted the aircraft toward Mount Vesuvius, which was not accounted for in the pilot's planning based on the earlier southerly wind report.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Approach
A procedure where the pilot proceeds to the airport by visual reference to the terrain; in this case, it was continued despite inadequate visibility.
LD NDB
A non-directional beacon used for navigation; the crew reported passing this beacon just before the final fatal turn.
Turbine Oil Temperature Indicator
A cockpit instrument for Engine No. 1 that was replaced during the stopover in Rome, causing a departure delay.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was the first Vickers Viscount to operate for Alitalia.
- 02The aircraft made its first flight on 18 August 1957 and was delivered to Alitalia on 1 October 1957.
- 03The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 610 meters (2,000 feet) with the landing gear retracted.
- 04The time of impact was determined by averaging the readings of three watches found in the wreckage.
- 05Heavy rain was falling at the crash site, which was obscured by clouds at the time of the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
VFR to IFR Transition
The accident reinforced the necessity for flight crews to strictly adhere to weather minimums and transition to instrument flight rules (IFR) immediately when visual contact with the environment is lost.