Accident Overview
On a charter flight from Barcelona to Oran, Algeria, a twin-engine airplane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea approximately 18 kilometers northwest of the Columbretes Islands. All ten occupants, including eight American businessmen and two pilots, were killed. Few debris were found floating on water.
Flight Details
The airplane departed Barcelona Airport at 10:18 local time on a charter flight to Oran. The flight carried ten people: eight American businessmen and two pilots.
Weather and Electrical Failure
En route, while cruising along the Spanish coast, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. They were cleared to deviate from the prescribed flight plan to the east. Shortly after, the aircraft entered an area of heavy turbulence. The aircraft was presumably struck by lightning, causing the electrical system to fail. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation stated that although the causes of the accident could not be determined, considering the circumstances and history of similar events with aircraft of the same type, the probable cause was a total loss of the electrical system caused by a lightning strike in the middle of the storm, without the crew being able to recover. It is possible that the lightning strike produced other damages to the airplane or induced failures in other systems. These circumstances, aggravated by the storm with strong rains, turbulence, and lack of visibility, led to the impact with the sea.