Accident Details
An airplane on a flight from Pisa to Livorno crashed into Mount Serra about 15 kilometers northeast of the airport. The aircraft had taken off from runway 04 and was climbing when it struck the slope of the mountain, which has an elevation of 3,200 feet. The wreckage came to rest approximately 180 meters from the summit. At the time of the accident, visibility was six kilometers in haze. Clouds included stratocumulus at 2,500 feet and altocumulus at 800 feet.
Aftermath
All 44 occupants of the airplane were killed in the accident. The occupants consisted of 38 cadets, one instructor, and five crew members.
Investigation Findings
The investigation into the accident determined that the exact cause could not be established with certainty. It was found that the aircraft was not following the correct track after departure. Due to the presence of clouds, the crew was unable to see the mountain. Investigators did not rule out the possibility that the pilot-in-command experienced spatial disorientation.