Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled international service from East Berlin to Sofia. As the aircraft approached Sofia, weather conditions were poor with heavy snowfall and limited visibility. Despite these conditions, the crew continued their descent past the established decision altitude (DA) while searching for visual cues of the runway. Realizing they were dangerously low without the runway in sight, the crew initiated an overshoot maneuver at an altitude estimated between 80 and 100 meters (260 to 330 feet). However, the aircraft was already too low to safely clear obstacles in the approach path. It struck a high-voltage power line, which led to a total loss of control and a subsequent impact in a forested area. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause of the accident was pilot error, specifically the failure to adhere to standard operating procedures regarding decision altitudes. The crew's decision to continue the descent below the minimums without visual contact with the ground in heavy snow led to the collision with ground obstacles. The late initiation of the go-around was insufficient to recover the aircraft before it struck power lines.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Decision Altitude (DA)
The specified altitude in a precision approach at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the approach has not been established.
Power Line Obstacle
The aircraft struck a high-voltage power line during the attempted go-around, which was the immediate cause of the loss of control.
Interesting Facts
- 01All 50 occupants, including 45 passengers and 5 crew members, perished in the crash.
- 02The aircraft was a Tupolev Tu-134A manufactured in 1974 with MSN 4352308.
- 03The passenger manifest included 38 Bulgarians and 7 East Germans.
- 04The crash site was located approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the runway threshold.
- 05The accident occurred during a period of heavy snowfall in the Sofia region.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Adherence to Decision Altitudes
The accident reinforced the critical importance of strictly adhering to decision altitudes and immediately initiating a go-around if visual references are not met.