Aircraft impact on Alfabia Peak near Palma

5 fatalities • Palma de Mallorca, Spain • Takeoff (climb)

A flight departing from Son Bonet Airport crashed into a mountainside shortly after takeoff, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

Shortly after departing from Son Bonet Airport in Palma, the crew of the aircraft communicated that they had reached an altitude of 3,000 feet and received authorization to climb further to 9,000 feet. Approximately two minutes following this communication, the aircraft type struck the terrain at Alfabia Peak, situated roughly 20 km north of the departure airfield.

The impact with the slope resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were five fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft. At the time of the collision, the flight was operating during nighttime hours, which contributed to reduced visibility at the site of the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was that the aircraft maintained insufficient altitude while operating under a standard climb power setting.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to maintain enough altitude during its climb phase while using normal engine power.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1959-05-02 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Palma de Mallorca, Spain?

A flight departing from Son Bonet Airport crashed into a mountainside shortly after takeoff, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 1959-05-02 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1959-05-02 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration OE-FDA, operated by Austria-Flugdienst, at Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft failed to maintain enough altitude during its climb phase while using normal engine power.

Loading the flight search…