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10 fatalities

Charter Flight Crashes in Leonessa, Eight Killed (I-ASCN)

Leonessa, ItalyFlight

On December 16, 1978, a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III (registration I-ASCN) operated by Air 70 was involved in an aviation accident near Leonessa, Italy in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew failed to realize the altitude was too low while cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, leading to collision with power cables. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine charter flight from Trieste to Algiers crashed near Rome after hitting power cables in fog. All eight occupants were killed.

Flight Details

On the day of the accident, a twin-engine airplane departed Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Airport at 1045 LT on a charter flight to Algiers. The aircraft carried two pilots and eight passengers, a delegation of the Icomsa. An en route stop was planned in Rome.

Accident Sequence

While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The airplane struck power cables and crashed on a house located in Leonessa, about 80 km northeast of Rome. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Victims

The crew consisted of pilots Carlo Rinauro and Giuseppe Torrisi. The passengers were Giuseppe Pino Bottacin, Armand Houzel, Enzo Bandelloni, Giulio Brunetta, Adriano Brunetti, Giovanni Indri, Giampaolo Schvarcz, and Giuseppe Trapanese.

Probable cause

The crew failed to realize the altitude was too low while cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, leading to collision with power cables.
Controlled flight into terrain

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 16 Dec 1978 Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III accident near Leonessa, Italy?

A twin-engine charter flight from Trieste to Algiers crashed near Rome after hitting power cables in fog. All eight occupants were killed.

Were there any fatalities in the 16 Dec 1978 Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 10 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 16 Dec 1978 involved a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III, registration I-ASCN, operated by Air 70, at Leonessa, Italy.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew failed to realize the altitude was too low while cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, leading to collision with power cables.

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