Accident Overview
A four-engine aircraft crashed into the Sierra de Moncayo mountain range west of Borja, Spain, while on approach to Zaragoza Airport. The aircraft was inbound from Ramstein Air Base in Germany and was carrying nine passengers and nine crew members, including a high-ranking officer of the Spanish Air Force. The flight was scheduled to participate in a joint exercise with the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force).
Flight Conditions
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 2,200 feet in marginal weather conditions. The flaps were deployed at 50° and the speed was 250 km/h. Visibility was estimated at 6 kilometers with a cloud ceiling at 1,200 feet. The aircraft struck the slope of the mountain, disintegrated on impact, and all 18 occupants were killed.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident, according to the investigation, was a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). No further details regarding contributing factors were provided in the source.