Crash of an Avro RJ100 in Diyarbakir: 75 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2003 at 2019 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro RJ100
Operator:
Registration:
TC-THG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Istanbul – Diyarbakir
MSN:
E3241
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
TK634
Location:
Diyarbakir
Southeastern Anatolia Region (Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
75
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
75
Captain / Total flying hours:
6309
Captain / Total hours on type:
473.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2052
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1802
Aircraft flight hours:
19289
Aircraft flight cycles:
16659
Circumstances:
On final approach to Diyarbakir Airport by night, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with local patches of fog and limited visibility. On short final, in a slight nose down attitude, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 900 metres short of runway 34, bursting into flames. Five passengers were seriously injured while 75 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the crew was completing a VOR/DME approach to runway 34 that was not equipped with an ILS.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew established a visual contact with the runway lights when, on short final, due to the presence of local patches of fog, the pilot-in-command lost visual contact with the ground for few seconds. This caused the aircraft to descend below the MDA until it impacted the ground 900 metres short of runway threshold. Poor weather conditions were considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air in Istanbul: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1998 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 350 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
TC-DHA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Istanbul - Antalya
MSN:
FL-37
YOM:
1991
Location:
Istanbul-Atatürk
Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Istanbul-Atatürk Airport, on a positioning flight to Antalya, the crew reported technical problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and eventually collided with containers stored by the apron, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.

Ground fire of an Ilyushin II-62M in Istanbul

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1998 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-62
Operator:
Trans Asian Airlines
Registration:
YR-IRD
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Istanbul - Almaty
MSN:
47 27 5 4 6
YOM:
1977
Location:
Istanbul-Atatürk
Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
64
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At Istanbul-Atatürk Airport, while preparing for takeoff, one of the engine caught fire and exploded. All 73 occupants (64 passengers and nine crew members) evacuated the aircraft and were uninjured. A fire erupted, destroying the rear part of the airplane.
Probable cause:
Engine fire and explosion.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Bursa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1998
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Registration:
TC-BAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Istanbul - Bursa
MSN:
421C-0331
YOM:
1977
Location:
Bursa
Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Bursa Airport by night, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed upon impact. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro RJ100 in Samsun

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1998 at 1458 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro RJ100
Operator:
Registration:
TC-THF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Istanbul - Samsun
MSN:
E3240
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
TK074
Location:
Samsun
Black Sea Region (Karadeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to runway 21, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. While on a second approach to runway 03 which is 1,620 metres long, the aircraft was too high on the glide and landed about half way down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, lost its undercarriage and collided with an earth mound located 67 metres past the runway end. All 74 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach above the glide with an excessive speed, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway (about half way down), reducing the landing distance available. At the time of the accident, the runway was wet and the braking action was reduced. The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Bryansk

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Aviaobshchemash
Registration:
RA-11327
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Istanbul - Bryansk
MSN:
1400104
YOM:
1961
Location:
Bryansk
Bryansk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Istanbul to Bryansk, carrying one passenger, eight crew members and a load of various goods. On approach to Bryansk Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog. The horizontal visibility was estimated to be 450 metres, the vertical visibility 80 metres with a RVR of 1,000 metres. On final approach, the pilot-in-command was unable to establish a visual contact with the runway so he decided to initiate a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, the crew attempted a second approach in similar weather conditions. Nevertheless, the crew continued the approach when the aircraft landed hard. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew was tired following an over 20 hours duty period without any rest time,
- The crew decided to leave Istanbul without any rest time period,
- Information transmitted to the crew concerning weather forecast for Bryansk Airport were inaccurate,
- The crew decided to continue the approach and to descent below the MDA without any visual contact with the runway lights until the aircraft impacted the ground.
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