Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV crash, Oct 10, 2001 (10 killed)
Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV accident on October 10, 2001 near Columbretes Islands, Valencian Community, Spain with 10 fatalities. Cause: Probable...
- Date: October 10, 2001
- Aircraft: Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV
- Location: Columbretes Islands, Valencian Community, Spain
- Fatalities: 10
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Probable total loss of electrical power after a lightning strike in a thunderstorm, from which the crew could not recover. The cause is not confirmed because no wreckage or recorders were available.
A Swearingen Merlin IV charter from Barcelona to Oran entered a thunderstorm area while cruising along the Spanish coast. The aircraft probably lost its electrical system, possibly after a lightning strike, and made an uncontrolled descent into the Mediterranean about 18 km northwest of the Columbretes Islands. All ten occupants were killed and little wreckage was recovered.