What happened
A charter flight departing from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport for Faro experienced a 40-minute delay prior to takeoff due to issues with the number two engine reverser. During the flight, which lasted approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes, the crew received descent clearances through various altitudes. Upon approaching Faro, the crew was notified of thunderstorms, reduced visibility, and a flooded runway.
As the aircraft descended to 303 metres while maintaining a speed of 140 knots, the flight became unstable. The first officer transitioned the autopilot from command mode to control-wheel steering, and shortly thereafter, the aircraft was flown manually. During this period, the airspeed dropped below the required approach reference speed. In an attempt to manage the descent, the crew increased engine power and pulled the elevator to pitch the aircraft up just seconds before touchdown. As the spoilers deployed, the aircraft entered a 25-degree right bank.
The right main landing gear impacted the runway at 126 knots with a descent rate of 900 feet per minute. The aircraft touched down with a nose-up attitude and a positive acceleration of 1.95 g. Following the impact, the right wing separated from the fuselage. The aircraft slid 1,100 metres from the runway threshold, coming to a stop 100 metres right of the centerline, where it caught fire. The accident resulted in 56 fatalities, including two crew members and 54 passengers. Of the 284 other occupants evacuated, 106 were seriously injured.
Findings
The aircraft, a charter flight (registration not provided), experienced a loss of stability during the final approach phase. The transition from automated to manual flight control coincided with a drop in airspeed below the necessary parameters for a stable approach.