Narrative:
Alitalia Flight 404 took off from runway 36R at Linate Airport in Milan, Italy at 18:36 on a scheduled passenger service to Zurich, Switzerland.
After an uneventful flight, AZ404 was cleared to descend to 4000 feet and to make an ILS approach to runway 14 at Zürich-Kloten Airport. At 14 nm from the runway 14 threshold, the aircraft captured the localizer. At about 11,5 nm short, the aircraft descended through the cleared altitude of 4000 feet. Descent from 4000 feet was only allowed after intercepting the glide path at 8 nm.
The aircraft descended about 1400 feet below the glide path until it struck trees on the Stadlerberg mountainside at an elevation of 506 meters, 5,2 nm from the runway. The aircraft crashed and broke up, killing all 46 on board.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "False indication of VHF NAV unit No.1 in the aircraft; probable altimeter misreading by the PIC; no GPWS warning in the cockpit; pilots not aware of the possibility of incorrect indications in the NAV equipment in use (without flag-alarm); inadequate failure analysis by the pilots; non-compliance with basic procedural instructions during the approach; COPI's initiated go-around procedure aborted by the PIC; the approach controller not observing the leaving of the cleared altitude of 4000ft QNH before the FAP."
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-92-8 and 9
accident date: 14-11-1990
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
registration: I-ATJA
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 14 November 1990 |
| Time: | 19:11 |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 |
| Operator: | Alitalia |
| Registration: | I-ATJA |
| MSN: | 47641/746 |
| First flight: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 43894 |
| Cycles: | 43452 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 40 / Occupants: 40 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 46 / Occupants: 46 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Stadlerberg ( Switzerland)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 506 m (1660 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Milano-Linate Airport (LIN/LIML), Italy |
| Zürich-Kloten Airport (ZRH/LSZH), Switzerland | |
| Flightnumber: | AZ404 |
Alitalia Flight 404 took off from runway 36R at Linate Airport in Milan, Italy at 18:36 on a scheduled passenger service to Zurich, Switzerland.
After an uneventful flight, AZ404 was cleared to descend to 4000 feet and to make an ILS approach to runway 14 at Zürich-Kloten Airport. At 14 nm from the runway 14 threshold, the aircraft captured the localizer. At about 11,5 nm short, the aircraft descended through the cleared altitude of 4000 feet. Descent from 4000 feet was only allowed after intercepting the glide path at 8 nm.
The aircraft descended about 1400 feet below the glide path until it struck trees on the Stadlerberg mountainside at an elevation of 506 meters, 5,2 nm from the runway. The aircraft crashed and broke up, killing all 46 on board.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "False indication of VHF NAV unit No.1 in the aircraft; probable altimeter misreading by the PIC; no GPWS warning in the cockpit; pilots not aware of the possibility of incorrect indications in the NAV equipment in use (without flag-alarm); inadequate failure analysis by the pilots; non-compliance with basic procedural instructions during the approach; COPI's initiated go-around procedure aborted by the PIC; the approach controller not observing the leaving of the cleared altitude of 4000ft QNH before the FAP."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Air Safety Week 5 April 1993 (p. 4,5)» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-92-8 and 9
Photos
accident date: 14-11-1990
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
registration: I-ATJA
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Milano-Linate Airport to Zürich-Kloten Airport as the crow flies is 230 km (144 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Milano-Linate Airport to Zürich-Kloten Airport as the crow flies is 230 km (144 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Switzerland
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DC-9-30
- 662 built
- 42nd loss
- 29th fatal accident
- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 18th worst accident (currently)
Switzerland- 4th worst accident
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