Madrid-Barajas Approach Accident: Aircraft Crashes After Descending Below Minimum Descent Altitude (HK-2910)

Flight and Approach Details The aircraft departed Paris-Roissy-CDG Airport and proceeded to Madrid-Barajas Airport. The crew received clearance to descend to runway 33 and, after reaching 9,000 feet, was cleared to continue. At 0103 local time, the crew was cleared to land on runway 33 and instructed to complete a right turn. During the approach, the crew made several errors and initiated the right turn before passing over the VOR, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). The aircraft struck the top of a hill at an altitude of 2,247 feet and a speed of 142 knots, tearing off the right main gear and engine number 4. Three seconds later, while in a 4.9-degree nose-up attitude and at 135 knots, the aircraft struck the top of a second hill. Six seconds after that, the right wing contacted the ground. The aircraft overturned, crashed upside down, and caught fire. The wreckage was located 12 kilometers from the runway threshold in an olive plantation. Eleven passengers were injured, including four members of the same family, while 181 other occupants were killed, among them Peruvian writer Manuel Scorza.