Investigation Summary
The aircraft, named Marmara, was performing a ferry flight following the Hajj season. During the second leg of the flight from Damascus to Ankara, the crew encountered technical difficulties. While the Captain later testified to an engine failure and loss of communication, airline officials initially suspected cabin pressurization issues, and later reports suggested an electrical system malfunction. The weather at Adana was uncharacteristically poor, featuring snow and mist that severely restricted visibility. The crew attempted a visual approach despite these conditions. After failing to see the runway on the first attempt, they initiated a go-around. During the subsequent approach, the aircraft descended below the safe glide path and impacted the ground near Sarihuglar village. The impact sheared off the landing gear and the aircraft slid before being consumed by fire. One flight attendant, who had previously survived a hijacking in 1969, was unable to escape the smoke and perished in the cabin.
Final Conclusions
The official cause, as reported by the Minister of Transport to the Turkish Parliament in 1975, was the crew's failure to adhere to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) limits. The pilots attempted to conduct a visual approach and landing in misty and cloudy weather conditions that required instrument procedures.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Electrical System
Post-accident reports in 1999 suggested a malfunction in the aircraft's electrical system contributed to the emergency.
Cabin Pressurization
Initial expert suspicion focused on a pressurization failure shortly after the emergency was declared.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft had carried the 13th Prime Minister of Turkey, Nihat Erim, to Paris just two days before the accident.
- 02It was snowing at the time of the crash, a rare weather event for the Adana region.
- 03The flight attendant who died, Hülya Maviler, was a survivor of a 1969 hijacking to Sofia.
- 04The crash is the only fatal McDonnell Douglas DC-9 accident in Turkish aviation history.
- 05The aircraft was manufactured in 1968 (serial number 47213/358) and had undergone extensive technical checks prior to the Prime Minister's flight.
Safety Actions & Advisories
IFR Adherence Reinforcement
The investigation emphasized the necessity for flight crews to strictly adhere to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) minimums during poor visibility, rather than attempting visual approaches in sub-standard conditions.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Conflicting Technical Failure Reports
Reference ↗There is significant disagreement regarding the technical emergency that prompted the diversion. The Captain testified to an engine failure and loss of communication. Initial airline expert reports suspected cabin pressurization issues. A 1999 report by Hürriyet cited an electrical system malfunction, while a BAAA-ACRO snippet suggests the pitot-static anti-ice system may have been involved.