Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, a four-engine airliner was conducting a scheduled passenger flight from Rome-Fiumicino Airport to Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport. The flight was uneventful until the crew began the approach to Palermo under night conditions.
Impact and Wreckage
The aircraft was flying too low and struck the slope of Mount Longa, a peak 600 meters high located 7 kilometers south of the airport, west of the village of Carini. The impact occurred just a few meters below the summit, causing the aircraft to disintegrate. All 115 people on board were killed.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, visibility was limited to 5 kilometers with cloud cover down to 1,500 feet.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the crew began the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum descent altitude. Contributing factors included the lack of visibility due to adverse weather conditions and poor instrument flight rules (IFR) operation by the crew. Additionally, it was reported that the crew failed to follow some instructions from air traffic control.