Alitalia Flight 4128
This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (November 2020) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | December 23, 1978 |
Summary | Controlled flight into water, pilot error |
Site | Tyrrhenian Sea, off Palermo, Italy 38°12′28″N 13°06′32″E / 38.20778°N 13.10889°ECoordinates: 38°12′28″N 13°06′32″E / 38.20778°N 13.10889°E |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 |
Aircraft name | Isola di Stromboli |
Operator | Alitalia |
Registration | I-DIKQ |
Flight origin | Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome, Italy |
Destination | Palermo International Airport, Palermo, Italy |
Occupants | 129 |
Passengers | 124 |
Crew | 5 |
Fatalities | 108[1] |
Injuries | 21 |
Survivors | 21 |
Alitalia Flight 4128 was a scheduled flight from Leonardo da Vinci Airport, in Rome, Italy, to Palermo International Airport in Palermo, Italy, with 129 on board. On December 23, 1978, it crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea about 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Palermo while on approach. The accident was attributed to the flight deck crew believing they were nearer to the runway than they actually were, and therefore making a premature descent. The initial part of the approach was instrumental until the flight was 2 miles from Palermo International Airport. The crew then stopped the descent at 150 feet above the sea, as though trying to locate the final approach area, thinking they were close to the runway because of the airport lights. In the final nine seconds the aircraft flew almost level with the sea at 150 knots; then, because of the wind, the aircraft lost its final altitude and impacted the water with its right wing. 21 of the 129 passengers survived and were rescued by nearby fishing boats.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 I-DIKQ Palermo". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
External links[]
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Italy
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error
- Disasters in Sicily
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1978
- 1978 in Italy
- Alitalia accidents and incidents
- Accidents and incidents involving the McDonnell Douglas DC-9
- December 1978 events in Europe
- Man-made disasters in Italy
- Aviation accident stubs