Incident Timeline
At 1759 hours, the aircraft made contact with Barajas Control Tower, reporting normal flight and that the airport was in sight. The crew requested landing data and asked to have the ILS turned on to test the airborne installation in the prevailing visual meteorological conditions. Barajas responded: "Runway 33, wind calm, QNH 30.13, report on reaching base leg, ILS out of order."
At 1803, the aircraft called the Paracuellos Area Control Centre, requesting emergency entry clearance as its left engine was on fire. The aircraft was given absolute priority for the use of any runway. This was the last contact with the aircraft.
Shortly thereafter, an engine fell clear from the aircraft, and 30 seconds later an intense light was seen, caused by a fire accompanied by columns of black smoke. After making a turn, the aircraft began to lose height rapidly and fell to the ground near Getafe. The airplane was destroyed by a post-crash fire, and all 21 occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause states that the accident was caused by a fire produced by extraneous objects, which developed in the left nacelle. The investigation noted that a different type of fire would have burned the wheel, the magneto couplings, and the landing gear leg; fuel combustion alone would not have been sufficient to weaken so rapidly the engine support fittings.