Lisbon – Ponta Delgada – Lajes – Lisbon

On February 4, 1998 at 10:17 PM, Lisbon – Ponta Delgada – Lajes – Lisbon experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-12, operated by Air Sofia, with the event recorded near Lajes Azores Islands.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The four engine aircraft was completing a mail flight from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada and Lajes and back to Lisbon. On the last leg from Lajes to Lisbon, the cargo consisted of 1,693,5 kg of cargo and mail. Shortly after takeoff from runway 33, while in initial climb, the engine n°3 failed and its propeller autofeathered. Six seconds later, the engine n°4 failed as well. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in hilly terrain not far from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration LZ-SFG, MSN 3 3 416 05, year of manufacture 1963.