2 fatalities

Aircraft crash into harbor wall near Trieste (I-BAJO)

Grado, ItalyFlight

On September 27, 1932, a Junkers F.13 (registration I-BAJO) operated by Società Aerea Mediterranea - SAM was involved in an aviation accident near Grado, Italy in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Deteriorating weather conditions with thunderstorms led to an attempted ditching that resulted in impact with a harbor wall. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft en route from Venice to Trieste struck a harbor wall near Grado after deteriorating weather conditions, resulting in two fatalities and two serious injuries.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route from Venice to Trieste. During the flight, meteorological conditions worsened significantly due to the presence of thunderstorms. In response to these hazardous conditions, the pilot attempted an emergency ditching maneuver in the waters off Grado. However, instead of landing safely on the water, the airplane impacted a harbor wall and subsequently crashed.

The accident resulted in tragic consequences for those on board. Two individuals lost their lives in the crash: the mechanic and one passenger. The pilot and a second passenger survived but sustained serious injuries.

Probable cause

Deteriorating weather conditions with thunderstorms led to an attempted ditching that resulted in impact with a harbor wall.