Iberia Airlines Flight 401

Iberia Flight 401
Accident summary
Date May 5, 1965
Summary Poor visual on runway
Site Tenerife, Canary Islands
Passengers 40
Crew 9
Fatalities 30
Survivors 19
Aircraft type Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator Iberia Airlines
Flight origin Madrid
Destination Tenerife

Iberia Airlines Flight 401 was a routine flight from Madrid International Airport in Spain to Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife. There was heavy fog at around 21:17 (9:17 p.m.) local time. As the plane came in on final approach, fog started to settle in and blocked view of the runway, and the approach controller informed the crew that visibility was below minima. The pilot made a very low run and initiated a go-around and made another approach to land. He got a view of the beginning of the runway, but not the rest of the runway and decided to go around at about 1,000 ft (305 m). As he applied full power, the aircraft struck a scraper and a tractor about 50 meters (164 feet) from the runway centerline. The plane was damaged and could not gain altitude, causing it to crash in the Los Rodeos gorge beside the runway.

The post-accident investigation faulted the pilot for not diverting to Las Palmas.

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