Crash of an Antonov AN-24V in Telkibánya: 42 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 2006 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5605
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Pristina – Košice
MSN:
9 73 056 05
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
The aircraft, operated by the Slovak Air Force (Letectva a Protivzdu Obrany-snej Slovenskej), was returning to Košice following an uneventful flight from Pristina, carrying 28 soldiers of the Slovak Army, 7 logisticians and 8 crew members flying back home after a period in Kosovo on behalf of the KFOR contingent. While descending to Košice-Barca Airport by night, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a snow covered and wooded area located near the village of Telkibánya, Hungary. The wreckage was found about 20 km southeast from runway 01 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. A passenger was seriously injured while 42 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as good with a cloud ceiling at 5,000 feet and a visibility of 10 km.
Probable cause:
Loss of situational and vertical orientation and non-compliance with the safety altitude." During the transition from instrument to visual approach to the airport of Košice, the pilots apparently did not set the radio altimeter. They "probably underestimated the height of the terrain below the aircraft and its immediate vicinity."

Crash of an ATR42-312 near Kosovska Mitrovica: 24 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1999 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-OHFV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Rome - Pristina
MSN:
12
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
KSV3275
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
5000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
24930
Aircraft flight cycles:
32810
Circumstances:
Arriving from Rome, the aircraft chartered by the World Food Program was going to land at Pristina. The meteorological conditions at the aerodrome corresponded to visibility of 4,000 metres with a layer of compact clouds at 3,000 feet. In radar and radio contact with the military air traffic control organisation for an ILS approach, the aircraft, which was outbound to the north at an altitude of 4,600 feet, entered a sector where the minimum safety altitude is 6,900 feet and struck a mountain whose peak is at 4,650 while turning to return towards the airport. The wreckage was found about 15 metres below the summit, some 18 km northeast of Kosovska Mitrovica and 42 km north of Pristina Airport. All 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The collision of Flight KSV 3275 with high ground was due to:
- Teamwork which lacked procedural discipline and vigilance during maneuvers in a mountainous region with poor visibility,
- The aircraft being kept on its track and then forgotten by a military controller unused to the mountainous environment of the aerodrome and to preventing the risk of collisions with high ground, within the framework of the radar service he was providing,
- The operator's critical situation as a new company highly dependant on the lease contract, favoring a failure to respect procedures,
- The opening of the aerodrome to civil traffic without an advance evaluation of the operating conditions or of the conditions for distribution of aeronautical information.
The following factors contributed to the accident :
- Crew fatigue, favoring a lowering of vigilance,
- Undertaking the flight with an unserviceable or disconnected GPWS.
Final Report: