What happened
A private flight departed from Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport in Spain, bound for Cascais, Portugal. The mission involved transporting a pilot and three passengers to a Portuguese maintenance facility for weather radar repairs. Due to poor weather conditions and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at the departure aerodrome, the takeoff was delayed until 15:57 local time.
While the aircraft was climbing from flight level 190 toward its assigned cruise altitude of flight level 210, a sudden deviation occurred. Radar data analysis indicates the aircraft experienced a leftward yaw, initiating a turn in that direction accompanied by a rapid loss of altitude. As the flight continued, the airspeed decreased significantly until the aircraft reached a stall condition.
The aircraft subsequently entered a spin that transitioned into a flat spin. During this uncontrolled descent, the aerodynamic loads applied to the horizontal stabilizer exceeded its structural design limits. This caused the tail section to break into five separate pieces while still in flight. The twin engine aircraft struck the ground, and the resulting impact and fire caused the complete destruction of the airframe. There were four fatalities in the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden leftward yaw and loss of altitude during the climb phase.
- The flight entered a stall and progressed into a flat spin.
- Structural failure of the horizontal tail occurred because the aerodynamic loads exceeded the design specifications.