Date:	Saturday 7 July 1962
Time:	00:10
Type:	Douglas DC-8-43
Owner/operator:	Alitalia
Registration:	I-DIWD
MSN:	45631/160
Year of manufacture:	1962
Total airframe hrs:	964 hours
Engine model:	Rolls-Royce Conway 508-12
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 94 / Occupants: 94
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	11 km NW of Junnar -   India
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD)
Destination airport:	Bombay-Santacruz Airport (BOM/VABB)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Alitalia flight 771 was a scheduled flight from Sydney (Australia) to Rome (Italy) via Darwin (Australia), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Bombay (India), Karachi (Pakistan) and Tehran (Iran). It departed Bangkok Airport for Bombay-Santacruz Airport at 15:16 UTC (22:16 local time). At 18:20 UTC (22:50 local time) the crew contacted Bombay Approach and received clearance to descend from FL350 to FL200. Five minutes later further clearance was given to 4000 feet. In preparation for a runway 27 approach, the crew reported that they would make a 360 degrees turn over the Outer Marker. Last radio contact was at 18:39 (00:09 local time). The DC-8 had descended below minimum safe altitude and struck the Davandyachi Hill at an elevation of approximately 3600 ft amsl (1098 m).

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was attributed to a navigation error which led the pilot to believe that he was nearer his destination than he actually was and, therefore, caused him to make a premature descent in instrument conditions for a straight-in approach to land at night. The aircraft consequently, crashed into high terrain. Contributing causes were: 1) Failure on the part of the pilot to make use of the navigational facilities available in order to ascertain the correct position of the aircraft.
2) Infringement of the prescribed minimum safe altitude. 3) Unfamiliarity of the pilot with the terrain on the route."

ICAO Accident Digest No.14 Volume II, Circular 71-AN/63 (83-97)
The Indian Express - Jul 8, 1962

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