Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 5 May 1965
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
Owner/operator: Iberia
Registration Number: EC-AIN
Location: Tenerife-Los Rodeos International Airport (TCI) – ÿ Spain
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 30 / Occupants: 49
Component Affected: Aircraft StructureAircraft Structure
Category: Accident
A Constellation aircraft crashed due to pilot error during a low approach in adverse visibility conditions. The pilot initiated a go-around and subsequently struck a scraper and tractor, resulting in a catastrophic crash in farmland. The incident highlights the critical importance of pilot awareness of approaching weather conditions.A Constellation aircraft crashed due to pilot error during a low approach in adverse visibility conditions. The pilot initiated a go-around and subsequently struck a scraper and tractor, resulting in a catastrophic crash in farmland. The incident highlights the critical importance of pilot awareness of approaching weather conditions.

Description

The aircraft had been cleared for a runway 30 approach when the approach controller informed the crew that visibility was below minima with clouds 6/8 stratus from 0-30 m. The pilot made a very low run and initiated a go-around and made another approach to land. The crew had to go around again but the aircraft struck a scraper and a tractor located 50 m from the runway edge. The Constellation crashed and broke up in farmland. PROBABLE CAUSE: “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 above.”

Primary Cause

Pilot-in-command’s failure to adequately assess and respond to deteriorating visibility conditions, leading to a low run and subsequent collision with obstacles.Pilot-in-command’s failure to adequately assess and respond to deteriorating visibility conditions, leading to a low run and subsequent collision with obstacles.

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