Country
code

Sofia Province

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sofia: 29 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-DOK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sofia - Varna
MSN:
9 62 02 47
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 09 at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the three engine aircraft was unable to rotate and failed to become airborne. It overran and crashed in a ditch, bursting into flames. Eight occupants were seriously injured while 29 others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the Sofia Airport should be momentarily closed to traffic because the Presidential Tupolev TU-154 of the Republic of Bulgaria was scheduled to takeoff with the Bulgarian President Todor Zhivkov on board. Large delays were expected so ATC cleared the crew to take off but asked him to expedite takeoff. In a certain confusion and in the rush, the crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and forgot to set the trim correctly. As the stabilizer was incorrectly set in the down position, the aircraft was unable to rotate and overran the runway before crashing.

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

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1984 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-TUR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin - Sofia
MSN:
4 35 23 08
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
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:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-7004
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sofia - Haskovo
MSN:
601607
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
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 an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-ANA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sofia - Varna
MSN:
67302708
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While parked on apron at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the airplane was deiced and the snow was removed before the crew was cleared to taxi to runway 10 for takeoff. However, the runway was closed for snow removal. When this was done, the crew was cleared for takeoff and just after liftoff from runway 10, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed on a bank of the Iskar River located by the airport. The copilot was killed and two passengers drowned. All other occupants were rescued, some of them were injured.
Probable cause:
The hold over time (HOT) between the deicing time and the takeoff time was too long and a significant amount of snow accumulated on the fuselage, wings and all critical surfaces. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to take off. The crew failed to request a second deicing.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
035
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
87304508
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sofia Airport. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Sofia: 28 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1971 at 2332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BES
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sofia - Algiers
MSN:
185 0081 04
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
62
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while climbing by night to a height of 8 meters, the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in a grassy area located on the left side of the runway. Among the debris scattered on a distance of 400 meters, 45 injured people were evacuated while 28 others were killed, among them two crew members and the Bulgarian singer Pacha Hristova who was travelling to Algeria with members of the Bulgarian folklorik band 'Aura'.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was just returning into service following ground maintenance. For unknown reason, technicians failed to comply with maintenance procedure and it was determined that the aileron control cables were not properly connected.

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

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-7005
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kardzhali - Sofia
MSN:
601609
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
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 a Tupolev TU-104B near Sofia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1962 at 0533 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42491
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sofia – Moscow
MSN:
0 2 16 04
YOM:
26
Country:
Region:
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:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
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 a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator near Novo Bardo

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-11840
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
336
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'The Witch' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Novo Bardo, at the border between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. All 10 crew members evacuated safely. Six were taken PoW and four evaded. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 343th BS.