What happened
During the final approach to Rome-Ciampino Airport, the flight crew encountered difficult weather conditions. While descending through cloud cover at approximately 6,500 feet, the crew reported a fire affecting the right engine to air traffic control. It is suspected that both engines on the right side of the four-engine aircraft were burning during this period.
In an effort to perform an emergency landing, the pilot-in-command lowered the aircraft's altitude. However, when the plane reached 650 feet, it entered a rapid descent and struck the ground in a large explosion. The impact occurred in a field situated roughly six kilometers east of the airfield. The force of the crash caused the aircraft to disintegrate, leaving debris spread across a broad area and creating a crater at the site. There were 16 fatalities resulting from the accident.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to confirm whether technical malfunctions or fires on both right engines were the primary drivers of the accident. Investigators noted that the aircraft entered an uncontrolled, steep dive. While it could not be definitively proven that atmospheric conditions caused a wing drop, the committee highlighted that the area was experiencing pronounced turbulence. The aircraft failed to recover from its descent before hitting the ground.