Accident Details
The twin-engine aircraft departed Madrid-Torrejón Air Force Base on a charter flight to Pamplona, carrying four businessmen and a crew of two. While descending to Pamplona-Noain Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and were unable to establish visual contact with runway 15. They initiated a go-around procedure.
Minutes later, while flying at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft impacted terrain and crashed in a hilly area of the Sierra de Tajonar, near the village of Labiano. The accident resulted in two fatalities: the copilot and a passenger. All other occupants sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent post-crash fire.
Investigation
Spanish authorities conducted an investigation into the accident. The official findings identified the following probable cause and contributing factors.
Probable Cause
The crew did not establish visual contact with the runway and initiated a go-around procedure during which approximations were noted in the flight techniques adopted by the pilots, who continued the flight in unstable conditions. As a result, the aircraft was 16° off the prescribed path and was flying at an insufficient altitude.
Contributing factors included: the wind did not correspond to the component reported in the bulletin published for the destination airport, affecting the aircraft's flight path; the total weight of the airplane was higher than the allowable limit and the center of gravity was out of permissible limits, reducing performance and maneuverability; the pilots lacked sufficient experience in instrument flight conditions; the operator lacked clear procedures; and the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority failed to adequately supervise the operator's activities.