What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, the I-LINC, an unidentified aircraft type, departed Ciampino Airport in Rome at 1508Z. The flight was initially operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for the leg from Ciampino to Elba, with a planned Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) segment from Elba to Milan-Malpensa via airways A3 and A9. This route intended to pass over the Genoa, Lombardia, and Elba beacons. During the flight at 1520Z, the flight plan was transitioned from VFR to IFR.
While cruising at 10,500 feet, the crew maintained standard radio contact with Rome and Milan area control centers. At roughly 1702Z, the pilot confirmed they were descending to and maintaining 9,500 feet as directed by Milan ACC. However, after 1714Z, air traffic controllers were unable to re-establish communication with the aircraft. The flight ended at approximately 1720Z when the plane struck the northern slopes of Monte Giner. The impact resulted in 21 fatalities, including all 4 crew members and 17 passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing elements to the accident. It was determined that the pilot failed to adhere to the assigned airways, which represented a breach of established flight regulations. Additionally, the pilot did not properly verify the aircraft's position or heading while navigating the updated route. Other factors included unfavorable weather conditions and wind drift, alongside the potential for inaccuracies within the onboard navigational equipment.