What happened
During an approach to the Vila Gago Coutinho airfield in 1973, an aircraft experienced a controlled flight into terrain. The crew did not recognize that the plane had descended to an insufficient altitude before the aircraft made contact with the earth.
Upon hitting the ground, the impact caused the landing gear to be ripped from the airframe. The plane continued to move across the surface, sliding on its belly for a distance of several meters before finally coming to a stop. Although the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were zero fatalities or injuries among the occupants.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the crew's failure to maintain safe altitude during the approach phase.