37 fatalities

1987-10-15: ATR42-300 (I-ATRH) — Aero Trasporti Italiani - ATI — Mt Crezzo, Italy

Mt Crezzo, ItalyFlight

On October 15, 1987, an ATR42-300 (registration I-ATRH) operated by Aero Trasporti Italiani - ATI was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Crezzo, Italy in flight. 37 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of longitudinal controllability due to severe icing conditions. The crew was inexperienced, which was considered as a contributing factor. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781215900Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft encountered severe icing 15 minutes after takeoff from Milan-Linate, resulting in extreme roll oscillations and loss of control. The aircraft crashed on Mt Crezzo, killing all 37 occupants. Inexperience was a contributing factor.

Accident Sequence

Approximately 15 minutes after departure from Milan-Linate Airport, while climbing to 14,700 feet, the flight crew encountered severe icing conditions. Maintaining a constant speed of 133 knots, the aircraft began to experience uncontrolled roll oscillations. It first rolled to the right to an angle of 41°, then to the left to 100°, followed by a right roll to 105°, and finally a left roll to 135°. The aircraft became uncontrollable, nosed down, and crashed into the slope of Mount Crezzo, located about 50 kilometers north of Linate Airport. The impact totally destroyed the aircraft and all 37 occupants were killed.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident. The primary factor was a loss of longitudinal controllability attributed to the severe icing conditions encountered during the climb. Additionally, the inexperience of the crew was considered a contributing factor to the chain of events leading to the loss of control.