What happened
During a night flight departing from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, a twin engine airplane carrying several high-ranking officials of the Portuguese Government experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft was performing a special mission traveling from Lisbon to Porto when it struck multiple houses in the Camarate district.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused seven fatalities among the occupants, which included members of the government and the flight crew. Despite the crash occurring in a residential area, there were no reported casualties on the ground.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical contributing factors that led to the loss of control during the takeoff phase. The crew's flight preparation was found to be inadequate, and the investigation noted that the left engine was inadvertently shut down during the climb. Because the propeller on the left engine was not feathered, it created significant aerodynamic drag.
Additional technical and operational issues included the flaps being set in an incorrect position for takeoff and the aircraft's center of gravity being outside of safe limits. The inquiry also highlighted systemic failures regarding the planning and safety oversight for transporting state officials, specifically noting concerns regarding the maintenance status of the foreign-registered aircraft. Furthermore, the crew was affected by fatigue and accumulated psychological stress.