What happened
On December 21, 1992, Martinair Flight 495, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 with registration PH-MRI, was operating a charter flight from Amsterdam to Faro, Portugal. The aircraft was carrying a total of 341 people, comprising 327 passengers and 13 crew members. The majority of the passengers were Dutch tourists returning from holiday.
Upon approaching Faro Airport, the flight encountered severe weather conditions. Despite these challenges, the aircraft managed to land on the runway. However, it failed to stop within the available distance and overran the end of the tarmac. The plane came to rest in a dune area adjacent to the airport. The impact and subsequent fire caused significant damage to the aircraft and resulted in numerous casualties.
Investigation
The accident was investigated to determine the causes behind the runway overrun. Authorities examined the weather conditions at the time, the performance of the aircraft's braking systems, and the actions of the flight crew. The investigation focused on whether the pilot could have stopped the aircraft safely given the wet runway and wind conditions.
Findings
The crash resulted in 56 deaths, including 2 crew members and 54 passengers. Additionally, 106 other occupants sustained serious injuries. The primary factors contributing to the accident included the severe weather conditions and the inability of the aircraft to stop on the wet runway within the available distance.