Status:	Definitief
Datum:	07 JUL 1962
Tijd:	ca 18:40 UTC
Type:	Douglas DC-8-43
Luchtvaartmaatschappij:	Alitalia
Registratie:	I-DIWD
Constructienummer:	45631/160
Bouwjaar:	1962
Aantal vlieguren:	964
Motoren:	4 Rolls Royce 508-12 Conway
Bemanning:	slachtoffers: 9 / inzittenden: 9
Passagiers:	slachtoffers: 85 / inzittenden: 85
Totaal:	slachtoffers: 94 / inzittenden: 94
Schade:	Afgeschreven
Gevolgen:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Plaats:	11 km (6.9 mijl) NW of Junnar (India)
Fase:	Kruisvlucht (ENR)
Soort vlucht:	Internationale lijnvlucht
Vliegveld van vertrek:	Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD), Thailand
Vliegveld van aankomst:	Bombay-Santacruz Airport (BOM/VABB), India
Vluchtnummer:	771

Beschrijving:
Flight AZ771 was a scheduled flight between Sydney and Rome via Darwin, Singapore, Bangkok, Bombay, Karachi and Tehran. it departed Bangkok for Bombay at 15:16 UTC. At 18:20 the crew contacted Bombay Approach and received clearance to descend from FL350 to FL200. Five minutes later further clearance was give 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. The DC-8 had descended below minimum safe altitude and struck the Davandyachi hill at an elevation of approximately 3600 ft amsl.

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."

Bronnen:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.14 Volume II, Circular 71-AN/63 (83-97)
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