What happened
A charter flight departing from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport for Faro was delayed by 40 minutes due to technical issues with the number two engine reverser. After a flight duration of approximately two hours and 17 minutes, the crew began their descent toward the destination. During the approach, the crew received weather updates indicating thunderstorms and reduced visibility. Shortly before arrival, they were notified that the runway surface was flooded.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of 303 metres while traveling at 140 knots, it became unstable. The first officer transitioned the autopilot from command mode to control-wheel steering (CWS), but this was switched to manual control one minute later. Following this transition, the airspeed dropped below the required approach reference speed. In an attempt to recover, the crew increased engine power and pulled the elevator to pitch up just seconds before touchdown. However, as the spoilers deployed, the aircraft banked 25 degrees to the right.
The right main landing gear struck the runway with a descent rate of 900 feet per minute at 126 knots. The impact, characterized by a nose-up attitude and high vertical acceleration, caused the right wing to separate from the fuselage. The aircraft slid down the runway, coming to a stop 1,100 metres from the threshold and 100 metres right of the centerline, where it caught fire. The accident resulted in 56 fatalities (two crew members and 54 passengers) and left 284 occupants evacuated, including 106 individuals with serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary cause was a sudden and unexpected windshear event during the final stage of the approach. This phenomenon led to an extreme lateral displacement and a high rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing on the right main gear that exceeded the structural limits of the aircraft.
Several contributing factors were identified:
- The crew's transition from CWS to manual control at approximately 80 feet RA placed the aircraft in manual flight during a critical phase.
- A premature and sustained reduction in engine power, likely due to crew action.
- Inaccurate wind information provided by Approach Control.
- The lack of an approach lighting system at the site.
- An incorrect assessment of the runway conditions by the flight crew.
- Reduced lift caused by heavy rainfall during the approach.