Palma de Mallorca | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on a visual approach to runway 24, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL off Palma de Mallorca: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1964 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

EC-AQH

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Palma de Majorca – Ibiza

MSN:

20072

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a non scheduled flight service from Palma to Ibiza. Shortly after a night takeoff from Son Bonet Airport, while climbing, both engines lost power. The airplane lost height and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft few km off shore. While contacting water, the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All 28 occupants evacuated the cabin and jump in the water with their life vest. Five minutes later, the airplane sank and one passenger drowned. 27 other occupants were later evacuated safely.

Crash of a Casa 2.111 off Palma de Mallorca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1961 at 1940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Casa 2.111

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Palma de Majorca – Albacete

Location:

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Circumstances:

About ten minutes after takeoff from Palma de Mallorca Airport, while climbing at night, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km off shore. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Palma de Mallorca: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1959 at 2212 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Austria-Flugdienst

Registration:

OE-FDA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Palma de Majorca – Vienna

MSN:

13332

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

After takeoff from Son Bonet Airport at Palma, the crew reported his altitude at 3,000 feet and obtained the permission to continue to 9,000 feet. About two minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of Alfabia Peak located 20 km north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced by night.

Probable cause:

It was concluded that the aircraft crashed as a result of insufficient altitude while flying at normal climb power.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D near Palma de Mallorca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1957 at 2008 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.114 Heron

Operator:

Registration:

EC-ANZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Barcelona – Palma de Majorque

MSN:

14117

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

1912

Captain / Total hours on type:

95.00

Aircraft flight hours:

465

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger transport flight between Barcelona and Palma, Majorca. It took off from Barcelona at 1919LT. At 2002LT it reported to the Palma, Majorca Area Control Centre that it was above the MJ radio beacon at flight level 60. It was cleared by the Centre for an ADF approach to the Son Bonet Airport and at 2008LT it hit a mountain located 14.5 km from the airport. The 2 crew members and the 2 passengers were killed, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, ADF approach to Son Bonet Airport was cleared by Control Centre as no other aircraft was in flight at the time, and the aircraft was asked to report on starting its procedure turn, i. e. after 4 minutes on the outbound track. If the aircraft did actually reach flight level 60 above MJ, since it did not carry out the holding procedure it is impossible to determine its rate of descent during let-down. To perform such a manoeuvre - once the radio compass has indicated passage over the radio beacon - the pilot should adjust his directional gyro to the heading of 195" indicated on the aerodrome chart (see Figure 3). In other words, he should have placed his aircraft on the outbound track toward Palma Bay and maintained this heading during three minutes after which he should have taken a 240° heading during one minute and then reported his procedure turn to Control. Now if a line is drawn from the radio beacon MJ to the site of the accident, it will be seen that the direction of the line is 295°, i. e. that it forms an angle of 100° with the let-down heading (195°). It is possible, therefore, that in setting the directional gyro the pilot mistakenly added 100 degrees. The distance of 14.5 km corresponds approximately to the distance from the beacon of a procedure turn. The possibility of a 14-knot wind causing such a displacement in the track of the aircraft within such a short period of time must be ruled out. Poor weather conditions and the rainfall prevailing at the time of the accident, coupled with the turbulence reported to EC-AHI on the Barcelona-Palma route might have influenced a pilot whose experience was limited.

Final Report:

Crash of a Latécoère 32 in Palma: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1928 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Latécoère 32

Operator:

Registration:

F-AISN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Marseille – Palma de Mallorca – Algiers

MSN:

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Palma, the seaplane was too low and hit a lightning mast. It stalled and crashed onto several houses in the city. While the radio navigator was killed, both other crew members were injured.
Crew:
Étienne Simon, pilot,
Fernand Royère, mechanic,
Fernand Girard, radio navigator.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the crew who continued the approach at a too low altitude.

Crash of a Latécoère 32 off Mallorca

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Latécoère 32

Operator:

Registration:

F-AISO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Marseille – Algiers

MSN:

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, while cruising south of Majorca Island, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. Wind was very strong (force 9) and the sea was rough. After 12 hours, the four occupants were eventually rescued by the crew of the Spanish boat named 'El Biar' while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Henri Vallin, pilot,
Mr. Le Roux, radio,
Juan Munar, radio,
André Dupont, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.