The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF, registered as PH-MBN, which was built in 1975 carrying the serial number 46924.

A large thunderstorm had developed near Faro airport, accompanied by heavy rain, windshear and low cloud.

The control tower informed the crew of the thunderstorm activity, in addition to stating that there was water on the runway.

According to the Portuguese aviation authority (DGAC), the cause(s) were likely to have been:[1] The DGAC describes the following additional factors: The Dutch Office for the Investigation of Accidents and Incidents of the National Aviation Authority (RLD) indicated that the probable cause(s) could be as follows:[1] According to the RLD, additional factors were: On 14 February 2011, the Algemeen Dagblad reported, among other things, a new investigation that was carried out at the request of relatives by researcher Harry Horlings.

[6][7] In the cover letter to the report of the American Aviation Service, in which the data from the black box were presented, it was indicated that the autopilot had been used incorrectly.

[8] The Dutch Safety Board stated that it was unable to respond because the Council had not been able to view and assess the report from Horlings.

Attorney Jan Willem Koeleman, who assisted some of the surviving relatives, announced that he would request Martinair to recognize liability and pay additional compensation.

[10] On the same day on which the District Court ruled in Amsterdam, 26 February 2014, a decision was also made here by means of an interlocutory judgement.

In the broadcast, a former technical controller from Martinair stated that, sometime before the date of the flight and under great pressure from his supervisors, he had signed a form in which the replacement of a landing gear of the aircraft was postponed for a third time.

The episode included an interview with attorney Jan Willem Koeleman, who assisted victims and survivors, detailing he had discovered that an archive of the Aviation Council should remain secret.

[14] Martinair Flight 495 was featured on season 22 of the Canadian documentary series Mayday, in the episode titled "Peril over Portugal".