| Iberia Flight 602 | |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Date: | 7 January 1972 |
| Type: | Controlled flight into terrain |
| Site: | Sierra de Atalayasa, Spain |
| Coordinates: | 38.9036°N 1.2511°W |
| Aircraft Type: | Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle |
| Aircraft Name: | Maestro Victoria |
| Operator: | Iberia |
| Tail Number: | EC-ATV |
| Origin: | Valencia Airport |
| Destination: | Ibiza Airport |
| Passengers: | 98 |
| Crew: | 6 |
| Fatalities: | 104 |
| Survivors: | 0 |
| Occupants: | 104 |
Iberia Flight 602 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight operated by the Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle that took off from Valencia, Spain, bound for Ibiza on the Balearic island of Ibiza which crashed into a mountain near Ibiza Airport. All 98 passengers and 6 crew died in the crash.
The aircraft was a Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle that first flew on 25 June 1963 and was powered by two Rolls-Royce RA-29 Mk.533R Avon turbojet engines. Delivered to Iberia on 9 July, the aircraft was initially named Tomás Luis de Victoria after the Spanish Composer of the same name, though this was later shortened to Maestro Victoria.[1] [2]
Flight 602 was under the command of 37-year-old captain José Luis Ballester Sepúlveda, with 7,000 flying hours' experience, first officer Jesús Montesinos Sánchez, and flight engineer Vicente Rodríguez Mesa.[3] [4]
Flight 602 was a domestic service flight that took off from Valencia Airport bound for Ibiza. On board were 6 crew and 98 passengers, most of whom were Valencia natives returning to Ibiza for work after the holidays.[5]
At approximately 12:15 p.m., the aircraft's captain radioed Ibiza Airport, requesting permission to descend to 5500feet. Ibiza Airport sources reported that he also said, "Get me a beer ready, we are here."
The aircraft was approaching Runway 07 when it descended below 2000feet. Reportedly, neither the captain nor the co-pilot noticed the dangerous descent, as they were discussing a football match with the airport tower controller. Flight 602 struck Mount Atalayasa approximately 90feet below its 1515feet summit.[6] The aircraft exploded on impact. All 98 passengers and 6 crew on board were killed.
It was ruled that the pilot had failed to maintain the minimum flight altitude for a visual approach to Runway 07.[7]