What happened
On November 19, 1977, a Boeing 727-282, registration CS-TBR, operated by Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP), was performing flight TP 425 from Lisbon to Funchal, Madeira, with an intermediate stop in Brussels. The flight carried 156 passengers and 8 crew members.
As the aircraft approached Santa Catarina Airport, the crew encountered challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain showers and visibility fluctuating between 3 and 5 kilometers. After two unsuccessful approach attempts due to visibility loss, the crew attempted a third landing on runway 24. The aircraft touched down at approximately 21:48 UTC at a speed of 148 knots, roughly 2,060 feet from the runway threshold.
Despite the application of reverse thrust and maximum braking, the aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently within the remaining runway length. The aircraft overran the end of the runway at 78.5 knots, striking a stone bridge located 28 meters below the runway level. The impact caused the tail section to remain on the bridge while the right wing and all three engines were torn from the fuselage. The remaining portion of the aircraft plummeted 14 meters further down onto a rocky beach near the sea. A massive explosion and subsequent fire completely destroyed the aircraft.
Of the 164 people on board, 122 fatalities were identified, with an additional 9 persons presumed dead. At least 33 individuals survived the accident, though 33 others sustained injuries.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation examined the flight history, meteorological data, and aircraft maintenance records. Investigators analyzed the flight path, including the three separate landing attempts, and reviewed air traffic control recordings from Funchal. The investigation also scrutinized the aircraft's mechanical condition, noting that while the aircraft had undergone a recent airworthiness inspection in November 1977, there had been reported issues with pressurization and magnetic compasses during the preceding flight from Lisbon to Brussels, which were reportedly resolved before the flight to Funchal.