At 02:51 on 28 October, the pilot reported he was at a height of and had the airport in sight. After no further communications were received from the aircraft, a search was initiated, involving eight aircraft and several ships. The aircraft was found to have crashed into Pico Redondo on São Miguel Island, (It is sometimes incorrectly said to have crashed on Pico da Vara) due north of the airport. All 48 on board were killed in the crash and subsequent fire. The wreckage was spread over an area in excess of . The bodies of the victims were recovered and initially taken to the church in Algarvia before they were repatriated. At the time, the accident was the deadliest to have occurred in Portugal and also the deadliest involving the Lockheed Constellation. A memorial to the victims was erected on Pico da Vara at .