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Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO at Palma de Majorca
Date & Time:
Apr 10, 1958
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ABN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Palma de Majorca – Barcelona
MSN:
7346
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Palma de Mallorca-Son Bonet Airport, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the right engine lost hydraulic pressure. The captain decided to land immediately back onto runway. With its landing gear still retracted, the airplane belly landed less than 100 meters from the runway end. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest. All 31 occupants were evacuated safely while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D near Palma de Mallorca: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 15, 1957 at 2008 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-ANZ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barcelona – Palma de Majorque
MSN:
14117
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Palma de Majorca
Date & Time:
Sep 26, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
D-ADEL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Palma de Majorca
MSN:
226
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Palma de Mallorca-Son Bonet Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop. It overran and struck a perimeter wall before coming to rest in an olive plantation. While all 37 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Palma de Mallorca
Date & Time:
Mar 1, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
EC-AAJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Palma de Mallorca – Barcelona – Madrid – Bilbao
MSN:
4073
YOM:
1935
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Palma de Mallorca-Son Bonet Airport, while climbing in limited visibility due to fog, the three engine airplane named 'Guadalquivir' collided with trees and crashed. All nine occupants evacuated safely.
