What happened
Shortly after departing from Schiphol Airport, the aircraft encountered a critical mechanical failure while in the initial climb phase. Approximately three minutes into the flight, both engines on the left side of the fuselage lost power simultaneously. The pilot initiated a return to the departure airport but was unable to regain sufficient thrust or control during the final approach turn. Consequently, the airframe stalled and impacted an embankment situated alongside the A4 highway. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire, leading to a fatal accident.
The incident resulted in the deaths of six individuals, comprising four crew members and two passengers. Additionally, fourteen other occupants sustained injuries. The flight deck included a pilot, a radio operator, two engineers, and a steward. The specific identities of the victims are not listed here in accordance with privacy standards for accident reporting.
Findings
Investigation into the event revealed that the primary issue stemmed from technical difficulties affecting both left-side engines during the climb. These failures were attributed to low fuel transfer issues, which prevented adequate pressure from reaching the engines. Although the crew attempted to address the situation by manually operating the fuel pump, the challenging flight conditions made it impossible to resolve the low-pressure state on both affected units. Furthermore, the decision to leave the fuel tap in a manual position was identified as a contributing factor that hindered the recovery of engine performance.