Background
Flight 401 was a scheduled domestic flight from Madrid, Spain to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 30 at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife/Los Rodeos Airport at 2053 hours. The approach controller informed the flight that the airport was below meteorological minima and provided weather conditions: wind from 330° at 10 to 12 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility between 100 and 500 meters reduced to zero over the runway by a bar of stratus, distant fog with intermittent fog banks, 6/8 stratus clouds from 0 to 30 meters, QNH 30.03 inches of mercury, QFE 942.9 millibars, temperature 14°C, and dew point 14°C. The flight acknowledged this information.
Approach and Go-Around
The pilot saw the beginning of runway 30 clearly but not the rest of it. He decided to make a very low pass, after which he re-applied power for a go-around at 2106 hours. He circled the aerodrome, apparently intending to land, and reported on final at 2115 hours.
Accident Sequence
At 2117 hours, the pilot reported to the tower: "401 pulling up to go around." This was the last communication received from the aircraft. During the go-around, the aircraft struck a scraper and tractor located 50 meters from the runway edge with one leg of the undercarriage and the lower aft part of the fuselage. The aircraft left various debris scattered about and subsequently crashed on the western edge of the diversion canal of the Rodeo gorge. From there, it slid approximately 100 meters across private farmland and burst into flames. The accident occurred at 2117 hours.
Probable Cause
The official finding stated that the pilot-in-command should have proceeded in view of the adverse weather conditions prevailing at the airport, which he should have appreciated during his first fly-past. His partial view of the airport and the glow of lights must have induced him to make a new attempt with the consequences described.