Investigation Summary
The flight was a non-scheduled charter operation for the Kulak Construction Company, carrying workers to a project at the U.S. military logistics hub in Balad. The aircraft departed Adana, Turkey, at approximately 04:00 UTC (06:00 local time). Upon arrival at Balad, the crew encountered dense fog that significantly restricted visibility. After failing to locate the runway on the first attempt, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the subsequent approach, the aircraft impacted terrain 2.5 kilometers from the threshold and burst into flames. The investigation faced significant challenges due to the security situation in Iraq and conflicting reports regarding the flight recorders. While authorities confirmed the recovery of the 'black boxes' from the wreckage on January 30, the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (BAAA) noted a critical complication: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was reportedly not in the aircraft or was empty at the time of the accident, hindering a precise reconstruction of the final flight path. Although the Islamic Army in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft, and one witness reported seeing a missile strike, investigators found no physical evidence of an attack.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the aircraft crashed due to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) while operating in weather conditions below minimums. The crew's decision to attempt a second landing in heavy fog without visual contact with the runway led to the aircraft descending below the safe glide path. The exact technical sequence could not be fully verified because the FDR was missing from the airframe at the time of the crash. Official statements from Iraqi and Turkish authorities dismissed claims of a missile strike, attributing the disaster to poor weather and human factors.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Ivchenko AI-24VT Engines
The aircraft was powered by two turboprop engines; initial reports from Turkish aviation authorities indicated no technical malfunction was detected.
Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
Although the physical unit was recovered from the wreckage weeks after the crash, investigators reported it was not in the aircraft or not recording during the flight, preventing a definitive determination of flight parameters.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 25 years old at the time of the accident, having first flown in 1981.
- 02The aircraft's Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was 11308.
- 03One passenger, a Turkish national named Abdülkadir Akyüz, survived the crash and subsequent fire.
- 04The cargo on board totaled 1,289 kg, well within the aircraft's 5,000 kg capacity.
- 05The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives stated the FDR was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident.
- 06The crash site was located approximately 80 km north of Baghdad.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Turkish Aviation Authority Review
Source ↗Following the crash, Turkish authorities conducted a review of charter operations into conflict zones, though the Turkish government was initially denied permission to join the formal Iraqi-led investigative team.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Cause of Crash: Weather vs. Missile
Reference ↗While official reports cite fog and pilot error, the insurgent group Islamic Army in Iraq claimed to have shot the plane down, and a relative of a victim claimed to have witnessed a missile strike.
Missing Flight Data Recorder
Reference ↗The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives notes the FDR was not in the aircraft at the time of the accident, which is a highly unusual circumstance for a commercial charter flight.