Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ankara: 52 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1963 at 1513 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CBK-28
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Ankara - Ankara
MSN:
19668
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ankara
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Captain / Total hours on type:
1452.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
36
Aircraft flight hours:
2340
Circumstances:
Middle East Airlines flight 265, a Vickers Viscount registered OD-ADE, was descending for Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, Turkey and had been cleared for an approach to runway 03. Last radio contact was at 13:09 hours GMT when the flight reported being over the Ankara NDB at 8000 feet, descending for 6500 feet. The crew would contact Ankara again over the NDB when inbound. Earlier in the day, at 11:22 GMT, a Douglas C-47 transport plane of the Turkish Air Force (CBK-28) had taken off from Ankara's Etimesgut Air Base for an instrument training flight in the southeast region of the Gölbasi beacon. The duration of the flight was planned for 1 hour 30 minutes . In this type of flight the student pilot is normally seated in the left-hand seat, an orange plexiglass panel is placed in front of him on the left half of the windshield, and he wears dark blue glasses. The instructor is in the right-hand seat and is able to maintain a lookout. The training manoeuvres had been completed, and the aircraft was returning to Etimesgut flying under visual flight rules by the time MEA flight 265 was descending for Esenboğa Airport. The Viscount, cruising on a heading of 283°, collided with the C-47 which was flying on a heading of 243° towards Etimesgut. The lower right-hand-side of the Viscount's nose and the starboard wing struck the C-47 from behind at a 40° angle in the door area on its port side. Propeller no. 3 also struck the C-47's left horizontal stabilizer, cutting it off. The blade ends broke off and remained with the tail unit of the C-47 near the base of the left horizontal stabilizer. The blade of propeller no. 4 cut the underside of the tip of the right horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft flew together for a very short time then separated. The tail unit of the C-47 having been cut off, the C-47 fell vertically immediately thereafter. Prior to being cut off, the left horizontal stabilizer of the C-47 damaged the starboard side skin covering of the Viscount in the vicinity of the passenger cabin windows. This piece of skin covering broke off, and some of the passengers fell out through this hole. The Viscount flew a very short while following the separation of the two aircraft, then nosed down and fell. Both aircraft crashed into a residential area of Ankara, killing 87 people on the ground. 50 others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The Viscount aircraft had an IFR flight plan but was cruising under VFR conditions when it hit, with the lower side of the nose and with its starboard wing, the C-47 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force between the door on the port side of the fuselage and the tail group at an angle of forty degrees from the left rear and at an angle of approximately five to ten degrees upward. It cut off, with its starboard inner (No.3) propeller, the port side horizontal stabilizer of the C-47 aircraft. The pilots of the Viscount aircraft did not see the C-47 aircraft cruising below 7000 feet on their right-hand side forward, and the Viscount, having a higher speed, caught up with the C-47 from the left rear. At the last moment the Viscount pilots saw the C-47 and tried to avoid the collision by pulling up, but they did not succeed. The following findings were reported:
- The Viscount pilot made an estimation error of two minutes on the distance between Gölbasi and the Ankara NDB,
- His radiocommunications did not conform to the standard international conversation procedures,
- The C-47 was returning to Etimesgut Airport under visual flight rules (VFR) following an instrument training flight,
- These training flights are scheduled to be carried out below 7 000 ft with the trainee-pilot behind blind flight panels and the instructor-pilot sitting so as to be able to see outside thoroughly, The flights normally last for 1 hour- and 30 minutes, however, the instructor is authorized to extend this period if he deems it necessary,
- The C-47 was subjected to an impact from the port side rear at an angle of 40° and from the bottom to the top upwards at an angle of approximately 5 to 10°. The Viscount's flaps were set at 32° down, and the gear was down and locked. The aircraft collided over the City of Ankara at an altitude less than 7 000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 754 Viscount in Ankara: 52 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1963 at 1513 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
OD-ADE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Beirut – Nicosia – Ankara
MSN:
244
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
ME265
Location:
Ankara
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Captain / Total hours on type:
2925.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4200
Circumstances:
Middle East Airlines flight 265, a Vickers Viscount registered OD-ADE, was descending for Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, Turkey and had been cleared for an approach to runway 03. Last radio contact was at 13:09 hours GMT when the flight reported being over the Ankara NDB at 8000 feet, descending for 6500 feet. The crew would contact Ankara again over the NDB when inbound. Earlier in the day, at 11:22 GMT, a Douglas C-47 transport plane of the Turkish Air Force (CBK-28) had taken off from Ankara's Etimesgut Air Base for an instrument training flight in the southeast region of the Gölbasi beacon. The duration of the flight was planned for 1 hour 30 minutes . In this type of flight the student pilot is normally seated in the left-hand seat, an orange plexiglass panel is placed in front of him on the left half of the windshield, and he wears dark blue glasses. The instructor is in the right-hand seat and is able to maintain a lookout. The training manoeuvres had been completed, and the aircraft was returning to Etimesgut flying under visual flight rules by the time MEA flight 265 was descending for Esenboğa Airport. The Viscount, cruising on a heading of 283°, collided with the C-47 which was flying on a heading of 243° towards Etimesgut. The lower right-hand-side of the Viscount's nose and the starboard wing struck the C-47 from behind at a 40° angle in the door area on its port side. Propeller no. 3 also struck the C-47's left horizontal stabilizer, cutting it off. The blade ends broke off and remained with the tail unit of the C-47 near the base of the left horizontal stabilizer. The blade of propeller no. 4 cut the underside of the tip of the right horizontal stabilizer. Both aircraft flew together for a very short time then separated. The tail unit of the C-47 having been cut off, the C-47 fell vertically immediately thereafter. Prior to being cut off, the left horizontal stabilizer of the C-47 damaged the starboard side skin covering of the Viscount in the vicinity of the passenger cabin windows. This piece of skin covering broke off, and some of the passengers fell out through this hole. The Viscount flew a very short while following the separation of the two aircraft, then nosed down and fell. Both aircraft crashed into a residential area of Ankara, killing 87 people on the ground. 50 others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The Viscount aircraft had an IFR flight plan but was cruising under VFR conditions when it hit, with the lower side of the nose and with its starboard wing, the C-47 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force between the door on the port side of the fuselage and the tail group at an angle of forty degrees from the left rear and at an angle of approximately five to ten degrees upward. It cut off, with its starboard inner (No.3) propeller, the port side horizontal stabilizer of the C-47 aircraft. The pilots of the Viscount aircraft did not see the C-47 aircraft cruising below 7000 feet on their right-hand side forward, and the Viscount, having a higher speed, caught up with the C-47 from the left rear. At the last moment the Viscount pilots saw the C-47 and tried to avoid the collision by pulling up, but they did not succeed. The following findings were reported:
- The Viscount pilot made an estimation error of two minutes on the distance between Gölbasi and the Ankara NDB,
- His radiocommunications did not conform to the standard international conversation procedures,
- The C-47 was returning to Etimesgut Airport under visual flight rules (VFR) following an instrument training flight,
- These training flights are scheduled to be carried out below 7 000 ft with the trainee-pilot behind blind flight panels and the instructor-pilot sitting so as to be able to see outside thoroughly, The flights normally last for 1 hour- and 30 minutes, however, the instructor is authorized to extend this period if he deems it necessary,
- The C-47 was subjected to an impact from the port side rear at an angle of 40° and from the bottom to the top upwards at an angle of approximately 5 to 10°. The Viscount's flaps were set at 32° down, and the gear was down and locked. The aircraft collided over the City of Ankara at an altitude less than 7 000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Bandirma

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TC-EFE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Çanakkale – Bandirma
MSN:
9307
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bandirma
Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Bandirma Airport for unknown reason. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild F27 on Mt Medetsiz: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1962 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
TC-KOP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Istanbul – Ankara – Adana
MSN:
83
YOM:
1960
Location:
Mt Medetsiz
Mediterranean Region (Akdeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot reported passing Aksaray and estimated to arrive at Adana at 1740LT. At 1728 the pilot reported at FL175 and requested a clearance to approach. At 1740 the flight was cleared to 5,000 feet and was asked to report crossing 8,000 feet and 7,000 feet. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,800 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Medetsiz located 87 km north of Adana Airport. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to reports received by the Incirlik tower, the aircraft should have been on the Adana radio range at 1540 hours and at flight level 175. In avoiding cumulus cloud, and associated turbulent conditions, the pilot was not able to keep track of his exact position or to maintain exact altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4B in Ankara: 27 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1961 at 2343 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.106 Comet
Operator:
Registration:
G-ARJM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Rome – Athens – Istanbul – Ankara – Nicosia – Tel Aviv
MSN:
6456
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
BE226
Location:
Ankara-Esenboğa
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Captain / Total flying hours:
13240
Captain / Total hours on type:
785.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from London to Rome, Athens, Istanbul, Ankara, Nicosia and Tel Aviv. From Istanbul the flight was operated by British European Airways on behalf of Cyprus Airways. The operating crew, employed by BEA, consisted of a captain and two first officers. Also aboard were four cabin staff employed by Cyprus Airways and 27 passengers. The trip to Ankara was normal. The time between landing and starting engines at Ankara was 46 minutes during which light snow was falling. (At take-off the aircraft had a light covering of snow on the upper surface of its wings, however, this deposit had no bearing on the accident). The radio-telephony tape recording showed that the aircraft taxied out along the short taxiway, then back-tracked up the runway to its take-off position on runway 21 at the intersection with the longer taxiway. The runway length available from this position was 9,027 feet. Take-off weight was 53 465 kg, i.e. 18 185 kg below maximum permissible weight or 1 085 kg below the regulated take-off weight. The takeoff run as to distance and time was quite normal, as also were rotation and unstick. The first abnormality occurred a second or two after unstick when the aircraft rapidly assumed an excessively steep climbing angle. One witness put the angle achieved as about twice the normal, another as 45° to 50°. There was also evidence from witnesses of a wing drop and of variations in the engine noise during this climb. The aircraft stalled with the left wing down at a height of about 450 ft then sank to the ground in a relatively flat attitude. The accident site was 1 600 m and on a bearing of 214° from Esenboğa Tower. The accident occurred at 2343LT. The aircraft was almost completely destroyed by impact and fire. All 7 crew and 20 passengers were killed. Six passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the obstruction of the pitch pointer In the captain's director horizon which led him to make an excessively steep climb immediately following unstick.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 100 near Ankara: 28 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1961 at 2002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
TC-TAY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nicosia – Adana – Ankara
MSN:
10182
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
TK835
Location:
Ankara-Esenboğa
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Aircraft flight hours:
111
Aircraft flight cycles:
140
Circumstances:
The flight was scheduled Nicosia - Adana - Ankara. No mechanical difficulties were reported en route. While approaching Ankara, the aircraft descended from flight level 165 to 90, was cleared to land and reported to Esenboga Tower (Ankara). At 1801Z the pilot reported leaving the Ankara radio range. One minute later the aircraft crashed and burned, fatally injuring 4 crew and 24 passengers. One passenger survived the accident with minor injuries. The accident site was 18 km from the left side of the extended centreline of runway 03.
Probable cause:
During the approach to the airport the aircraft was not in the normal pattern and was below the normal altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle I in Ankara: 42 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1960 at 2147 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle
Operator:
Registration:
OY-KRB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Copenhagen – Düsseldorf – Vienna – Istanbul – Ankara – Cairo
MSN:
14
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
SK871
Location:
Ankara-Esenboğa
Central Anatolia Region (İç Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
310.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1971
Copilot / Total hours on type:
280
Circumstances:
On an instrument approach to Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, while descending to an altitude of 3,500 feet heading 031, the airplane struck a hill located 9,6 km short of runway 03 threshold. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all 42 occupants have been killed. For unknown reason, the aircraft passed below the glide and was 1,100 feet too low at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred because of an unintentional descent below the authorized minimum flight altitude during final approach to Esenboğa Airport. The reason for this descent could not be ascertained due to lack of conclusive evidence.

Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas in Kapıdağ Yarımadası: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Nord 2501 Noratlas
Operator:
Registration:
GA+243
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
18
YOM:
1953
Location:
Bandirma
Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Bandirma AFB, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kapıdağ Yarımadası located 18 km northwest of the airfield, in the Kapıdağ Peninsula. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 688 Super Trader 4B on Mt Süphan Dağı: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1959 at 0946 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 689 Tudor
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGRH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
London – Ankara – Bahrain
MSN:
1256
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Süphan Dağı
Eastern Anatolia Region (Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from London to Bahrain with an intermediate stop at Ankara Airport, carrying a crew of 12 and various goods. At 0814LT, the airplane passed over Gemerek at an altitude of 11,500 feet then Elaziğ at 0859LT at 13,500 feet. The crew reported his position over Muş 27 minutes later and the contact was lost at 0946LT. SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found six days later on the slope of the Mt Süphan Dağı (4,158 metres high) located to the north of the Van Lake. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft, flying on instruments, drifted north of its normal track because of strong winds and crashed into the mountain. Contributing factors were:
- The winds were stronger than forecast,
- An accurate bearing could not be obtained at Muş, and Van had not been checked,
- Sub-normal temperatures would result in a high indicated altimeter reading,
- Calculations on the flight and contacts with beacons were not coordinated and controlled.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Incirlik AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
51-5201
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43611
YOM:
1951
Location:
Incirlik AFB (Adana)
Mediterranean Region (Akdeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff at Incirlik AFB, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while five others were injured.
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