Sofia-Vrazhdebna

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Addis Ababa City District

Schedule:

Sofia - Addis Ababa

MSN:

6 3 440 01

YOM:

1966

Location:

Addis Ababa-Bole

Country:

Ethiopia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a wrong approach configuration, the four engine airplane landed too far down on runway 25 and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest. While all nine occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew completed a wrong approach configuration, making a steep turn too late on final. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The aircraft' speed at touchdown was excessive,
- As the aircraft was too high on approach, it landed too far down the runway, approximately a third past the runway threshold,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around maneuver,
- Poor crew coordination.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Sana'a

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1984

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-BEP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sofia - Sana'a

MSN:

185 0081 05

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Sana'a Airport was completed in a nose-down attitude, causing the aircraft to land nose gear first. The aircraft bounced four times then landed firmly. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Sofia: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1984 at 1938 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-134

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-TUR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berlin - Sofia

MSN:

4 35 23 08

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport was initiated by night and limited visibility due to snow falls. On short final, the crew descended below the glide when the aircraft struck successively power cables and tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 4 km short of runway threshold, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The decision of the crew to continue the approach below the glide without any visual contact with the runway until impact with obstacles.

Crash of an Antonov AN-14A near Samokov: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-14

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-7004

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sofia - Haskovo

MSN:

601607

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing an ambulance flight from Sofia to Haskovo when it crashed in the Rila Mountain range located near Samokov. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154 near Damascus: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-154

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-BTB

Flight Phase:

Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sofia - Damascus - Sharjah

MSN:

72A027

YOM:

1972

Location:

Damascus

Country:

Syria

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7800

Circumstances:

On approach to Damascus Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the three engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 22 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Sharjah with an intermediate stop in Damascus.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134 in Gabare: 73 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1978 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-134

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-TUB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Sofia - Warsaw

MSN:

8 35 05 01

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the crew informed ATC about an unexpected situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Control was lost from an altitude of 4,900 meters and the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field located near the village of Gabare. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 73 occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-1B2 in Kufra

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-BAA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sofia - Al-Koufrah

MSN:

8 3 460 01

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date remains unknown but the accident occurred during December 1975.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-ANA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: