Investigation Summary
The flight was a short inter-island service between Tenerife and Las Palmas. During the flight, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions with significant cloud cover obscuring the mountainous terrain of central Tenerife. The Bristol 170 impacted the slopes of the Teide volcano, resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft. Search teams confirmed there were no survivors among the passengers and crew. The accident highlighted the challenges of navigating the Canary Islands' high terrain during periods of low visibility in an era before advanced terrain avoidance technology.
Final Conclusions
The accident was attributed to the aircraft's impact with high terrain while flying in conditions of restricted visibility. The presence of low clouds over the mountainous region of Tenerife was a significant factor, as it obscured Mount Teide from the crew's vision during the flight.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Altimeter
The primary instrument for determining altitude; investigators looked into whether incorrect pressure settings or instrument lag contributed to the descent into terrain.
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
The flight was operating in an era where navigation in the Canary Islands relied heavily on visual landmarks, which were obscured by clouds at the time of the crash.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the Canary Islands prior to the 1970s.
- 02Mount Teide is the highest point in Spain, reaching 12,188 feet (3,715 meters).
- 03The aircraft involved was a Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.21E, a variant designed for both cargo and passenger transport.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Route Modification
Following the accident, procedures for inter-island flights were reviewed to ensure greater lateral separation from the Teide massif during periods of low visibility.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the entered by an editor. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.