Tangier – Madrid

On October 28, 1957 at 06:05 PM, Tangier – Madrid experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Iberia - Lineas Aéreas de Espana, with the event recorded near Madrid-Getafe Madrid.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

21 people were known to be on board, 21 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 17, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. At 1759 hours the aircraft was in contact with Barajas Control Tower and reported normal flight and that the airport was in sight. It requested landing data and asked that the ILS be turned onto test the airborne installation in the prevailing visual meteorological conditions. Barajas replied: "Runway 33, wind calm, QNH 30.13, report on reaching base leg, ILS out of order". At 1803 the aircraft called the Paracuellos Area Control Centre asking for emergency entry clearance as its left engine was on fire. It was given absolute priority for the use of any runway. That was the last contact with the aircraft. Shortly thereafter an engine fell clear, and 30 seconds later an intense light was seen caused by a fire accompanied by columns of black smoke. After making a turn the aircraft began to lose height rapidly and fell to the ground near Getafe. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 21 occupants have been killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration EC-ACH, MSN 19332, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.3143°, -3.6777°.