Region
Europe

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 in Ioannina

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
1050
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elefsis - Elefsis
MSN:
1050
YOM:
1978
Location:
Ioannina
Epirus / Ήπειρος
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Elesis Airbase in the day. En route, a fuel leak occurred and a fire erupted. The crew diverted to Ioannina Airport to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane landed safely and came to rest in flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire caused by a fuel leak.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 off Corinth: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
1042
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Elefsis - Elefsis
MSN:
1042
Location:
Corinth
Peloponnese / Πελοπόννησος
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Elefsis AFB on a training mission consisting of scooping manoeuvres. After completing a scooping procedure, the crew attempted to takeoff when the seaplane crashed into the sea off Corinth. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-500 near Kozani: 50 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1976 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BBR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Athens - Larisa
MSN:
2156
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
OA830
Location:
Kozani
West Macedonia / Δυτική Μακεδονία
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
En route from Athens to Larisa, the crew was informed by ATC that Larisa Airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions and was rerouted to Kozani. While descending to Kozani Airport in poor weather conditions, at an altitude of 4,265 feet, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 25 km south of the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 50 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was limited to 20 metres.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a premature descent on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Transall C-160D near Chania: 42 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1975 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Transall C-160
Operator:
Registration:
50+63
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hohn - Chania
MSN:
D085
YOM:
1970
Location:
Chania
Crete / Κρήτη
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein on a flight to Chania-Souda Airport, Greece, carrying 37 German soldiers and a crew of five who were to join a NATO contingency in Crete. The approach to Chania Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with fog and snow falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kukules located about 24 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound off Chania: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1973 at 1148 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
Operator:
Registration:
152787
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4
Location:
Chania
Crete / Κρήτη
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Chania-Souda Airport, en route to a US Navy ship cruising in the Mediterranean Sea, the airplane suffered a double engine failure and crashed into the sea about 8 km offshore. Three crew members were rescued while seven others were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the double engine failure could not be determined. However, the assumption of a fuel contaminated by water was not ruled out.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-500 off Athens: 37 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1972 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BBQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kerkyra - Athens
MSN:
2155
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
OA506
Location:
Athens-Ellinikon
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kerkyra Airport, the crew started the descent in poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to the night. On final approach in stormy weather, the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 5 km offshore. 16 occupants were rescued while 37 others, including a crew members were killed. The wreckage sank by a depth of 12 meters but was recovered a day later and brought back onto the beach.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined but it is believed that it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain (water surface) while approaching Athens-Ellinikon Airport in limited visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Kerkyra

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Athens - Kerkyra
MSN:
45544/1026
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kerkyra
Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
62
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Kerkyra-Ioánnis Kapodístrias Airport runway 35, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on runway then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 450 feet further. All 67 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Vilia: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1970 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Vilia
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a training mission, carrying a crew of 5 and 22 paratroopers. While cruising in foggy conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kithairon located near Vilia, some 47 km northwest of Athens. Three paratroopers and a crew member were rescued while 23 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Paneio: 90 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1969 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Canea - Athens
MSN:
45540
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
OA954
Location:
Mt Paneio
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
85
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
90
Circumstances:
While descending to Athens-Hellinikon Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. An activ thunderstorm area was located south of the airport so the crew started an ILS approach but modified his track to the northeast over the region of Keratea. While flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet with its undercarriage retracted, the four engine aircraft passed over the city of Keratea then struck the slope of Mt Paneio located about 20 km southeast of Hellinikon Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of 90 occupants survived.
Probable cause:
The pilots were unable to distinguish the mountain due to low visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions. While slightly off track on approach, the airplane struck a mountain slope and was destroyed. The accident is considered to be the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader near Chania: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Grumman C-1A Trader
Operator:
Registration:
136764
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chania - USS Wasp
MSN:
17
YOM:
1957
Location:
Chania
Crete / Κρήτη
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short flight from Chania to the USS Wasp that was cruising offshore. Shortly after takeoff from the Souda Bay, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located south of the city. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 2,048 meters and all three crew members were killed.
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