Douglas DC-9 crash, Nov 14, 1990 (46 killed), Zurich-Kloten
Douglas DC-9 accident on November 14, 1990 near Zurich-Kloten, Zurich, Switzerland with 46 fatalities. Cause: A short circuit that made the NAV...
- Date: November 14, 1990
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-9
- Location: Zurich-Kloten, Zurich, Switzerland
- Fatalities: 46
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: A short circuit that made the NAV receiver fail without warning, combined with poor crew resource management, including the captain's veto of the first officer's go-around; lack of lighting on the mountain and misreading of the drum-pointer altimeter were contributing factors.
Alitalia Flight 404, a DC-9-32 (I-ATJA) on a scheduled service from Milan Linate, struck trees on the Stadlerberg near Weiach while on approach to Zurich on 14 November 1990. The aircraft had descended about 1,400 feet below the glide path, and all 46 people aboard, 40 passengers and six crew, were killed. The Swiss investigation found that a short circuit made the NAV receiver fail without warning, so the crew likely believed they were on the correct approach path.