Ponta Delgada - Horta

On December 10, 1999 at 10:18 AM, Ponta Delgada - Horta experienced a crash involving BAe ATP, operated by SATA Air Açores, with the event recorded near São Jorge Island Azores Islands.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

35 people were known to be on board, 35 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: 31, passenger fatalities: 31, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Ponta Delgada Airport at 0930LT on a schedule flight to Horta, carrying 31 passengers and a crew of four. The weather en route was affected by a frontal system with scattered cumulonimbus, heavy showers, turbulence and strong winds from the southwest. The crew decided to alter their flight plan, opting for a route that included approach descent over the channel between Pico and São Jorge islands to intercept the 250 degree VOR/VFL Horta radial. Horta tower initially cleared the flight to FL100. The crew then requested and were cleared to descent to 5,000 feet with the instruction of maintaining visual contact with Pico Island. During the descent heavy rain and turbulence were encountered. Seven minutes after initiating the descent, while in IMC conditions, the airplane impacted the northern hillside of Pico da Esperança (1067 metres high) located on São Jorge Island. It was later reported that the GPWS alarm sounded 17 seconds before impact. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 35 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CS-TGM, MSN 2030, year of manufacture 1990.