Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was ferried from Sweden to its new operator in Venezuela and departed Linköping Airport for Porto, carrying one passenger and two pilots. The aircraft was equipped with 13 metal cans containing fuel secured in the cabin and the fuel transfer to the structural tanks was completed via an electrical pump. While flying over France at an altitude of 5,500 feet, the right engine failed, followed shortly by the left engine. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft rolled for about 400 metres and eventually collided with trees. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that both engines failed due to fuel starvation and because the fuel was not properly transferred from the cans installed in the cabin. Prior to departure, the crew calculated the hourly consumption to be 170 litres while the correct consumption was in fact 360 litres per hour.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight preparation,
- Wrong calculation of the fuel consumption,
- Poor fuel management,
- Insufficient knowledge of the aircraft performances,
- The installation of the cans had not been approved by the Authority prior to this delivery flight.

Crash of a Saab 340B in Porto

Date & Time: May 14, 1997 at 1628 LT

Type of aircraft:

Saab 340

Operator:

Regional Lineas Aéreas

Registration:

EC-GFM

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Madrid - Porto

MSN:

315

YOM:

1992

Flight number:

RGN1335

Location:

Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro

Douro Litoral

Country:

Portugal

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3225

Captain / Total hours on type:

1292.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1985

Copilot / Total hours on type:

904

Aircraft flight hours:

7226

Aircraft flight cycles:

7216

Circumstances:

Because of construction works on runway 35, the threshold at Porto was displaced by 760 metres. This was published in a Notam but during the flight preparation at Madrid-Barajas Airport, the crew was not informed about this notice. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to descent and received instructions for a landing on runway 35 but no information about the displaced threshold. On final approach, the controller realized that the aircraft was approaching too low and instructed the crew to 'overshoot please'. The crew did not react to this instruction and continued the approach when the aircraft undershot the displaced threshold and landed in the construction area. It struck several trenches which caused the undercarriage to be torn off and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 37 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The following factors were identified:
- While preparing the flight in Madrid, the crew have not been informed about the Notam published by the Porto Airport Authority reporting that the runway 35 threshold has been temporary displaced of 760 metres due to construction works,
- The existence of two markings on the runway 35 threshold, which may have confused the crew,
- Lack of concentration of the crew during the flight,
- The controller did not effectively alert the crew about work in progress,
- The controller, trying to alert the crew, did not use a correct phraseology.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Lisbon: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1980 at 2016 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Operator:

Registration:

YV-314P

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Lisbon - Porto

MSN:

421A-0040

YOM:

1969

Location:

Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém

Estremadura - Lisbon District

Country:

Portugal

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1613

Captain / Total hours on type:

42.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

744

Aircraft flight hours:

1500

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane, chartered by the Portuguese Government, was engaged in a special flight from Lisbon to Porto, carrying various members of the Portuguese Government. Shortly after takeoff from Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém Airport, while climbing by night, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Camarate. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. There were no casualties on ground.
Occupants:
Mr. Francisco Sa Carneiro, Prime Minister,
Mrs. Francisco Sa Carneiro,
Mr. Amaro da Costa, Minister of Defence,
Mrs. Amaro da Costa,
One Chief of Cabinet and two pilots.

Probable cause:

The loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the crew,
- Inadvertent shutdown of the left engine during initial climb for unknown reasons,
- The left propeller was not feathered, causing high drag,
- The flaps were not deployed in the correct position for takeoff,
- The CofG was off limits,
- Negligences of those responsible for planning and safety in the air transport of important figures of State, in an aircraft of foreign registration whose maintenance status was not previously maintained rated,
- Crew fatigue,
- Crew psychic stress accumulation.

Final Report: