Region
Europe

Crash of an Antonov AN-14A on Mt Sveti Duh: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-14
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-7005
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kardzhali - Sofia
MSN:
601609
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mt Sveti Duh
Sofia Province
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Sveti Duh located in the Rila Mountain Range. The wreckage was found a day later and a passenger was evacuated while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears the accident was the consequence of an ATC error.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18E in Burgas: 47 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1968 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BEG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin - Sofia - Burgas
MSN:
187 0091 01
YOM:
1967
Location:
Burgas
Burgas
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
80
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a charter flight from Berlin to Burgas with an intermediate stop in Sofia, carrying 80 East-German tourists who were flying on holidays to Burgas, on the shore of the Black Sea. While descending to Burgas, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, rain falls and thunderstorm activity. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low, struck obstacles and crashed in flames few hundred meters short of runway threshold. Five crew members and 42 passengers were killed while 39 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew apparently took the decision to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions. In violation to the published procedures, the crew descended below the glide and continued the final approach at an insufficient altitude, causing the aircraft to struck obstacles and to crash.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B near Sofia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1962 at 0533 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42491
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sofia – Moscow
MSN:
0 2 16 04
YOM:
26
Location:
Sofia-Vrazhdebna
Sofia Province
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
1404
Aircraft flight cycles:
628
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport, carrying a load of 12,108 kg of cherries and 1,408 kg of strawberries. Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, while climbing to a height of 400 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine. The pilot-in-command made a slight turn to the left to 5-6° and shut down the left engine 30 seconds later. The airplane continued heading 095° to the altitude of 800 meters then entered in clouds. The crew informed ATC he was dumping the fuel and returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km north of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the failure of the left engine could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the failure occurred at a critical stage of flight and created a complex situation to the crew who was forced to dump the fuel without appropriate assistance from ATC. The lack of radar equipment remains a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Sofia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Bulgarian Air Force - Bulgarski Voennov Azdushni Sili
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Vakarel
Sofia Province
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Sofia in poor weather conditions, the aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude, struck power cables and crashed in a field located in Vakarel, 27 km southeast of Sofia Airport. All 5 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Varna: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Bulgarian Air Force - Bulgarski Voennov Azdushni Sili
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sofia - Varna
Location:
Varna
Varna
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Varna in poor visibility (clouds down to 160 metres) when deviated from the approach pattern and crashed into a hill (300-350 metres). All six crew killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049 Constellation in Petrich: 58 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1955 at 0738 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
4X-AKC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
London – Paris – Vienna – Tel Aviv
MSN:
1968
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
LY402
Location:
Petrich
Blagoevgrad
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
51
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
58
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 2015 GMT on 26 July from London for Tel Aviv with stops at Paris and Vienna. On 27 July it departed (0253 hours) Vienna with an estimated time of arrival over Belgrade of 0436 hours. While in the area of the Yugoslav-Bulgarian border at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet the aircraft was fired upon by two Bulgarian fighters. Following two more attacks the aircraft broke up in mid-air at an altitude of 2,000 feet and fell to the ground in flames at a point 3,5 km southeast of the junction of the Rivers Strumica and Strumon in Bulgarian territory near the Bulgarian-Greek border. All 58 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft sustained a hit or hits which caused loss of pressurization and a fire in the heater compartment. The aircraft broke up in mid-air due to explosion caused by bullets hitting the right wing and probably the left wing together with a projectile or projectiles of large calibre bursting in the rear end of the fuselage. Nevertheless, it was determined that the airplane deviated from its route, violated the State frontier of Bulgaria and penetrated deep into the interior of the Bulgarian airspace without warning. Equipped as it was with perfect air navigation devices, the airplane cannot have been unaware of the fact that it violated the State frontier of Bulgaria. Even after it had been warned, it failed to comply and continued to fly southwards in the direction of the Bulgarian-Greek frontier. The Bulgarian air defense forces acted with some hastiness and did not take all necessary measures to compel the aircraft to surrender and land. The Bulgarian Government considers it necessary to draw attention also to the fact that, for many years, certain parties, failing to respect the sovereignty of the Bulgarian People's Republic, have systematically been violating the Bulgarian frontiers. In recent years many illegal crossings of the Bulgarian frontiers by airplanes 'of unknown nationality' have been recorded. During these illegal flights, subverters equipped with arms, radio stations and other supplies were parachuted into Bulgarian territory. The Government of the Bulgarian People's Republic protested several times to the Secretariat of the United Nations Organization. Unfortunately, however, this produced no results. All these factors created a tense atmosphere which made it necessary to take steps to safeguard the security of the State. It was this tense atmosphere that made possible the unfortunate accident to the Israeli airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2P on Mt Vezhen: 30 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1952 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-TUE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sofia – Gorna Oryahovitsa – Varna
MSN:
184 323 03
YOM:
1947
Location:
Mt Vezhen
Lovech
Country:
Bulgaria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Vezhen (2,198 meters high) located in the Stara Planina Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later, about 20 meters below the summit, and all 30 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was nil due to heavy snow falls and the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain.
Probable cause:
After takeoff from Sofia Airport, the crew was supposed to follow a circuit of 15 km around the capital city to gain the minimum altitude of 1,500 meters before proceeding to the northeast. Apparently to save time and fuel, the crew decided to ignore this procedure and proceeded directly to the northeast after departure, causing the aircraft to approach the mountain range at an insufficient altitude. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributory factor.
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