Aircraft crash near Ibiza Airport

104 fatalities • Ibiza, Spain • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft crashed into a hillside while approaching Ibiza Airport during conditions of low visibility, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During an approach to Ibiza Airport, the flight crew encountered heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility. While navigating through these conditions, the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude without the crew realizing their actual height above the ground. The plane was traveling at a high speed of 515 km/h when it collided with the slope of a hill situated between Mt Atalaya de San José and Mt Rocas Altas.

The impact occurred approximately 8 km northwest of the threshold for runway 07, roughly 30 meters below the hilltop summit. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were 104 fatalities among the total number of occupants on board.

Findings

Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor was a controlled flight into terrain. This occurred because the crew initiated a premature descent while operating in limited visibility, which led to the aircraft dropping below the required altitude for the approach.

Probable cause

The crash was caused by a premature descent below the minimum descent altitude during an approach in low-visibility conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1972-01-07 Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle accident near Ibiza, Spain?

An aircraft crashed into a hillside while approaching Ibiza Airport during conditions of low visibility, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 1972-01-07 Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 104 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1972-01-07 involved a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle, registration EC-ATV, operated by Iberia - Lineas Aéreas de Espana, at Ibiza, Spain.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crash was caused by a premature descent below the minimum descent altitude during an approach in low-visibility conditions.

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