Fiat G.212 accident at Keerbergen, Belgium, 1 Jul 1948 (I-ELSA)
On July 1, 1948, a Fiat G.212 (registration I-ELSA) operated by Avio Linee Italiane - ALI was involved in an aviation accident near Keerbergen, Belgium during landing or approach. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Adverse weather conditions and malfunctions in the radio communication and navigation equipment led the captain to decide to make an emergency landing at a makeshift airfield. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
Adverse weather conditions and malfunctions in the radio communication and navigation equipment led the captain to decide to make an emergency landing at a makeshift airfield. To align with the runway at its beginning and keep it in sight, the pilot executed a tight left-wing turn at low altitude, banking the aircraft in such a way that the resulting roll angle caused the aircraft to reach stall speed. For reasons that could not be determined, the pilot attempted to land at Keerbergen Airfield, whose infrastructure is not designed to accommodate aircraft of that size.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
When descending to Brussels, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, low visibility and a ceiling at 100 metres. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to report his position to ATC when entering the Brussels Control Area. Apparently lost, the captain decided to land at Keerbergen Airfield which is located 17 km northeast of Brussels-Melsbroek Airport. Flying in a south-north heading, the plane passed over Keerbergen Airfield then the pilot made a right turn to land on the 650-meter-long runway. However, the plane touched down too far down the runway and bounced back up. After a left turn, the leading edge of the left wing hit an obstacle, but the aircraft appears to remain controllable. The pilot then initiated a sharp turn to the left to reach the 725-meter-long runway when the aircraft crashes into a wooded area located 200 meters from the runway. Four passengers and four crew members were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): Adverse weather conditions and malfunctions in the radio communication and navigation equipment led the captain to decide to make an emergency landing at a makeshift airfield. To align with the runway at its beginning and keep it in sight, the pilot executed a tight left-wing turn at low altitude, banking the aircraft in such a way that the resulting roll angle caused the aircraft to reach stall speed. For reasons that could not be determined, the pilot attempted to land at Keerbergen Airfield, whose infrastructure is not designed to accommodate aircraft of that size.