FlightFinder
Check my flight
19 fatalities

Airplane Crashes on Mount Sinnai Shortly After Takeoff (I-LAIL)

Cagliari, ItalyTakeoff (climb)

On January 26, 1953, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration I-LAIL) operated by Linee Aeree Italiane - LAI was involved in an aviation accident near Cagliari, Italy during takeoff. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing which detached in flight from its root. It is believed that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

Minutes after departing Cagliari-Elmas Airport, an airplane lost control and crashed on Mount Sinnai, killing all 19 occupants. The left wing detached in flight due to structural failure from wrong attitude; the exact cause remains undetermined.

Accident Summary

Shortly after takeoff from Cagliari-Elmas Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground, and crashed on Mount Sinnai, located 15 kilometers northwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces, and all 19 occupants were killed.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined that the loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing, which detached in flight from its root. Investigators believe that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. However, they were unable to establish whether this resulted from a fault on the part of the flying crew or from the aircraft encountering strong downdrafts or turbulence.

Probable cause

The loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing which detached in flight from its root. It is believed that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. Nevertheless, investigations were unable to establish if this was the result of a fault on part of the flying crew or if the aircraft encountered strong downdrafts or turbulences.
Structural failure

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 26 Jan 1953 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Cagliari, Italy?

Minutes after departing Cagliari-Elmas Airport, an airplane lost control and crashed on Mount Sinnai, killing all 19 occupants. The left wing detached in flight due to structural failure from wrong attitude; the exact cause remains undetermined.

Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jan 1953 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 19 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Jan 1953 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration I-LAIL, operated by Linee Aeree Italiane - LAI, at Cagliari, Italy.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of control was caused by the failure of the left wing which detached in flight from its root. It is believed that the loss of the left wing was caused by a structural failure due to the wrong attitude of the aircraft. Nevertheless, investigations were unable to establish if this was the result of a fault on…

More accident analyses