Investigation Summary
Flight 741 was a scheduled international service from Cairo to Nicosia. During the descent phase, the flight crew contacted Nicosia air traffic control and indicated they would proceed with a visual approach to the runway. While maneuvering north of the airport at night, the aircraft drifted toward the Kyrenia mountain range. The crew failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance, and the Ilyushin Il-18D impacted the mountain at an altitude of 783 meters (2,569 feet). The impact occurred approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) from the runway 14 threshold. The resulting explosion and fire were so intense that the Cypriot National Guard was deployed to assist in extinguishing the blaze and securing the site.
Final Conclusions
The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The primary factor was the crew's decision to conduct a visual approach at night without maintaining sufficient altitude to clear the known mountainous terrain north of Nicosia. The aircraft was functioning normally until the moment of impact.
Video Analysis
EgyptAir Flight 741 Aftermath Footage | 29 January 1973 Nicosia, Cyprus — Historical footage showing the wreckage of the EgyptAir Ilyushin Il-18 in the Kyrenia Mountains following the 1973 disaster.
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Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Approach Procedures
The crew opted for a visual approach at night, which requires the pilot to maintain visual contact with the terrain and airport, increasing the risk of CFIT in mountainous areas.
Flight Data Recorder
The device was recovered and analyzed in Moscow to determine the aircraft's flight path and engine performance prior to impact.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Soviet-built Ilyushin Il-18D turboprop.
- 02The crash site was located 117 meters (384 feet) below the crest of the mountain.
- 03The flight carried 30 passengers and 7 crew members, all of whom perished.
- 04The passenger manifest included 14 Britons, 10 Egyptians (including crew), 7 Americans, 2 Swedes, 1 Canadian, 1 Irish, 1 French, and 1 Jordanian.
- 05The flight data recorder (black box) was sent to Moscow for analysis.
- 06The wreckage was located approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) from the runway 14 threshold.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Visual Approach Restrictions
The accident highlighted the dangers of night visual approaches in proximity to high terrain, leading to stricter adherence to Minimum Sector Altitudes (MSA) during instrument-to-visual transitions.