Background
The accident occurred during a positioning flight from Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) to Funchal Airport (FNC). Positioning flights are conducted without passengers, typically to reposition aircraft or transport crew. The flight was carried out under night conditions.
Accident Details
As the aircraft approached Funchal, the pilot-in-command began a turn to align with the approach path for runway 06. During this maneuver, the airplane stalled. The loss of lift caused the aircraft to descend rapidly. The crew was unable to recover before the aircraft struck the water several kilometers offshore.
Casualties and Wreckage
All three crew members on board were killed in the accident. The wreckage sank to a depth of approximately 740 meters. Despite search efforts, the wreckage was not recovered, and no flight recorders or other evidence were retrieved.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The investigation faced significant challenges due to the lack of physical evidence. The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The official probable cause statement concluded that due to lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause. However, it is believed that the aircraft's speed was probably too low during the last turn, causing the aircraft to stall and crash. The distance between the aircraft and the water surface was insufficient to expect recovery.