Investigation Summary
The approach to Genoa was conducted in challenging conditions, including a tailwind component of 15 to 18 knots. The Dornier 328 touched down significantly further down the runway than intended and bounced several times. During the landing roll, the crew failed to achieve effective deceleration. The aircraft veered right, struck a 1.5 meter high retaining wall which caused the nose gear to collapse, and entered the sea. The forward section of the fuselage flooded rapidly. A 15 year old member of a youth swim team, who had studied the safety card during the flight, successfully opened the emergency exit, allowing survivors to escape onto the wings before being rescued by airport fire services and harbor craft. The investigation highlighted that the captain's failure to properly manage the aircraft's braking systems and speed during the landing phase was the primary factor in the overrun.
Final Conclusions
The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (Civilavia) concluded that pilot error was the predominant factor in the accident. The captain landed at a higher speed than required and failed to effectively counter the tailwind and crosswind conditions. Furthermore, the investigation found that the crew did not correctly utilize the aircraft's braking and control systems. While the defense later argued that thrust reversers were jammed, the initial judicial findings emphasized poor control of the aircraft and its systems rather than mechanical failure. The captain was initially sentenced to two years and eight months for negligent homicide, which was later reduced to two years on probation.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
The Crash of Minerva Airlines Flight 1553 — A detailed look at the 1999 runway overrun of a Dornier 328 in Genoa, Italy, examining the pilot errors and environmental factors that led to the aircraft ending up in the sea.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Alessandro Del Bono, age 35.
Systems & Failure Modes
Thrust Reversers
Systems used to redirect engine thrust forward to assist in braking; their functionality was a point of contention during legal appeals.
Nose Landing Gear
The forward landing gear assembly, which collapsed upon striking a 1.5 meter retaining wall at the end of the runway.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Dornier 328-110 manufactured in 1995 (MSN 3054).
- 02The flight was operated by Minerva Airlines under a codeshare agreement with Alitalia.
- 03The runway at Genoa (Runway 29) is 3,025 meters long and bordered by the sea.
- 04Three people died at the scene, and a fourth died later in the hospital.
- 05The accident occurred on the same day the Italian Parliament voted to create the ANSV safety board.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Establishment of ANSV
Although the legislation passed the day of the crash, the accident accelerated the operational start of the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) as Italy's independent safety board.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Thrust Reverser Functionality
Reference ↗During the captain's trial and subsequent appeal, conflicting claims were made regarding whether the thrust reversers were jammed or if the lack of deceleration was entirely due to pilot error in managing the aircraft's systems.