SA de Transport Aérien Flight 730
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 HB-ICK taking of from Geneva, 2 years earlier
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| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 18, 1977 |
| Type | Pilot error |
| Site | Funchal, Portugal |
| Passengers | 52 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 36 |
| Survivors | 21 |
| Aircraft type | Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10R |
| Operator | SA de Transport Aérien (SATA) |
| Tail number | HB-ICK |
SA de Transport Aérien Flight 730, tail number HB-ICK, was a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10R aircraft en route from Zurich, Switzerland to Funchal Airport, Portugal with an intermediate stop in Geneva, Switzerland on December 18, 1977.
The non scheduled flight started its route in Zurich, making its first stop at Geneva Cointrin International Airport at 14:30 UTC. While at the gates, the departure to Funchal was delayed due to a hydraulic pump failure, and the aircraft finally took off at 16:26. The flight crew consisted of two captain. The pilot in command had never previously landed at Funchal and was to be initiated to that difficult airport by the other, more experienced captain, who was acting as co-pilot. The initiation however, should have been made during daytime, but because of the delay on the departure at Geneva, the aircraft reached its destination after dark. At 19:38, the crew contacted Madeira control tower, reporting Rose Point at FL330, being cleared to descent to FL050. At 19:55, the crew reported overflying Porto Santo island at 8500 ft and was instructed to continue its descent to 5000 ft and then to contact Funchal approach control. At 19:57, the approach control cleared the crew to descend to 3500 ft and informed the crew that the QNH was 1014.0 mb. Apparently during the landing checklist, the crew forgot to set the altimeter at that value, and proceeded to the final 180 degree turn to the downwind leg well below the descent plane, losing sight of the runway lights. Relying only on his instruments, the pilot descended below the 720 ft allowed during circling and reached base leg below 200 ft, touching the sea soon after that.
The aircraft had its landing gear down and the flaps were out at 20 degrees. At crash time, the altimeter marked 500 ft.
35 passengers and one hostess lost their lives. On impact many got trapped inside the fuselage, sinking with the wreckage. The remaining passengers and crew, including both pilots were rescued by local fisherman and rescue teams, or swam to the shore nearby.
The cause of the accident was attributed to pilot error, due to lack of coordination between the pilots and due to sensorial illusion.
This was the second accident with fatalities to occur in less than one month in that airport. On November 19th, TAP Portugal Flight 425 crashed at Madeira airport, killing 131 people.
