Spain’s Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission said in a preliminary report into the 20 August Spanair MD-82 crash released recently that the inquiry is focused on the aircraft’s flaps. According to the MD-82’s flight data recorder, “the value registered [on] deflection of flaps was 0 degrees,’’ the report said. “The investigation continues and is centered on obtaining additional evidence that will [establish] the aircraft’s configuration at the time of the accident.’’

The report said that it appears the aircraft’s flaps were not extended as it attempted to take off and that no warning was sounded in the cockpit. The commission stated that the aircraft reached an altitude of 40 ft. before crashing back down tail first into the Madrid Barajas runway and catching fire, killing 154 of 172 aboard.