Country
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Mediterranean Region (Akdeniz Bölgesi)

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL near Sütçüler: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
ETI-27
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
13878
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched to Antalya when it crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Sütçüler, about 65 km north of Antalya Airport. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 727-2F2 near Isparta: 154 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1976 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-JBH
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Istanbul - Antalya
MSN:
20982
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
TK452
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
146
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
154
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Istanbul-Yeşilköy Airport at 2245LT on a scheduled flight to Antalya, carrying 146 passengers and a crew of eight. After passing over the Afyon VOR at an altitude of 25,000 feet, the crew requested the permission to descend to 13,000 feet. A 2311LT, the captain reported Antalya city lights in sight and started the descent to runway 36. At this time, the real position of the aircraft was about 100 km north of Antalya. Four minutes later, while descending by night under VFR mode at an altitude of 3,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Karakaya (1,371 metres high) located south of Isparta. The airplane disintegrated on impact and debris were found at an altitude of 1,130 metres. All 154 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane was descending by night under VFR mode to Isparta instead of Antalya after the flying crew mistook the city lights of Antalya with the ones of Isparta (100 km to the north). This error of judgment on part of the crew caused the aircraft to initiate the descent prematurely and to struck the mountain that the crew failed to locate due to lack of visual references. In consequence, the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain following navigational errors.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Adana: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-JAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Damascus - Ankara
MSN:
47213/358
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Damascus to Ankara, the crew informed ATC about cabin pressurization problems and was cleared to divert to Adana-Şakirpaşa Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to snow falls and as he was unable to locate the runway, he decided to make a go-around. Few minutes later, while in a second attempt to land, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground. Upon impact, the airplane lost its undercarriage and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames 2 km short of runway 05 threshold. Four crew members were injured while one of the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4B off Demre: 66 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1967 at 0325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ARCO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London - Athens - Nicosia - Cairo
MSN:
6449
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
BE284
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
66
Captain / Total flying hours:
14563
Captain / Total hours on type:
2637.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6318
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2471
Aircraft flight hours:
15470
Circumstances:
G-ARCO left London-Heathrow Airport at 2145 hours on 11 October 1967, operating British European Airways (BEA) flight BE284 to Athens. It carried 38 passengers and 2 154 kg of freight, including 920 kg for Nicosia. The aircraft arrived at Athens at 0111 hours on 12 October and reached its parking area on the apron at about 0115 hours. Six Athens passengers were disembarked. At Athens the flight became Cyprus Airways flight CY 284 for Nicosia. Four passengers and the captain remained on board the aircraft whilst it was refuelled and serviced for the flight to Nicosia. The Captain and the two First Officers continued with the aircraft but the cabin staff was changed, the new staff being those of Cyprus Airways. Twenty-seven passengers joined the aircraft at Athens for the flight to Nicosia. From the evidence of the BEA and Olympic Airways staff at Athens the aircraft's transit was normal. It was refuelled to .a total of approximately 17 000 kg and only one minor defect, relating to the Captain's beam compass, was recorded in the technical log. This defect was dealt with by the ground crew. The baggage for the passengers joining the aircraft for the flight to Nicosia and the freight was placed in holds 1 and 2; the baggage and freight from London to Nicosia remained in holds 4 and 5. The aircraft taxied out at 0227 hours and was airborne on schedule at 0231 hours; it was cleared by Athens Control to Nicosia on Upper Airway Red 19 to cruise at flight level (FL) 290. After take-off it climbed to 4 000 ft on the 180' radial of Athens VOR and then turned direct to Sounion, which it reported crossing at 0236 hours. At 0246 hours, the aircraft reported that it was crossing R19B at FL 290 and was estimating Rhodes at 0303 hours. At 0258 hours at an estimated position 3fi041'N, 27O13'E, the aircraft passed a westbound BEA Comet which was flying at FL 280. Each aircraft saw the other; the Captain of the westbound aircraft has staked that flight conditions were clear and smooth. G-ARC0 passed Rhodes at 0304 hours and at 0316 hours reported passing R19C at FL 290 and that it estimated passing abeam of Myrtou, Cyprus, at 0340 hours. This message was not received by Athens direct but was relayed by the westbound aircraft. G-ARC0 was then cleared by Athens to change to the Nicosia FIR frequency. The recording of the R/T communications with Nicosia shows that G-ARC0 called them to establish contact; the time of this call was 0318 hours + 9 seconds and it is estimated that the aircraft would then have been at a position 35° 51'N 30°17' E, approximately 15 NM to the east of R19C. Nicosia replied to the aircraft with an instruction to go ahead with its message but no further transmission was heard. Nicosia continued to try to contact the aircraft but without result and overdue action was therefore taken. At 0440 hours R.A.F. Search and Rescue aircraft took off from Akrotiri; at 0625 hours wreckage from G-ARC0 was sighted in the vicinity of R19C, the last reported position. None of the 66 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
The aircraft broke up in the air following detonation of a high explosive device within the cabin. A high explosive device detonated within the cabin while the aircraft was cruising at FL290. The explosion severely damaged the aircraft causing an out-of-control condition followed by structural break-up at a lower altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27 on Mt Medetsiz: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1962 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-KOP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Istanbul – Ankara – Adana
MSN:
83
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
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 Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Incirlik AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
51-5201
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43611
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
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.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK off Adana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
6043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
15963/32711
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In unclear circumstances, the Dakota collided with a THK Republic F-84G Thunderjet registered 51-10884. Out of control, it crashed into the Seyhan Barajı off Adana, killing all five crew members. The pilot of the Thunderjet ejected and was later rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Adana: 25 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1954 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
TC-ARK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Adana – Ankara
MSN:
19509
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Less than ten minutes after takeoff from Adana Airport, while climbing, the airplane exploded in midair and crashed in the Kurttepe Mountain Range located northwest of the city. Debris were scattered on an area of about 15 km and all 25 occupants were killed, among them the Turkish Archaeologist Remzi Oğuz Arık. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Mersin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Luqa – Nicosia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Luqa to Nicosia, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path to the north. While cruising in foggy conditions, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located in the region of Mersin. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.