wreckage of Martinair Holland – DC10-30F (PH-MBN) flight MP495

Martinair Holland flight MP495 crashed on 21 December, 1992, a DC-IO-30F aircraft registration PH-MBN, with 327 Passengers and 13 Crewmembers on Board while executing an approach to Runway 11 at Faro Airport, for
a landing.
An active Thunderstorm Formation was approaching the airport.

The aircraft made a hard landing on the left hand side of Runway 11.

The Right Landing Gear fractured, followed by the separation of the Right Wing from the Fuselage, starting a rotation of the aircraft along its longitudinal Axis.

The aircraft slid to the right and off the runway, broke into two main sections and caught fire.
Several passengers and crewmembers were killed.

first touchdown of Martinair Holland flight MP495 indicated airspeed 126 Kts and a vertical acceleration of 1,9533 g.

The commission of inquiry determined that the probable causes for the accident were:

Martinair Holland – Mcdonnel Douglas – DC10-30F (PH-MBN) flight MP495

• The high rate of descent in the final phase of the approach and the landing made on the right landing gear, which exceeded the structural limitations of the aircraft.
• The crosswind, which exceeded the aircraft limits and which occurred in the final phase of the approach and during landing.
• The combination of both factors determined stresses which exceeded the structural limitations of the aircraft.

Contributing factors to the accident were:

• The instability of the approach.
• The premature power reduction, and the sustaining of this condition, probably due to crew action.
• The incorrect wind information delivered by Approach Control.
• The absence of an approach light system.