2001-MAY-17 · Alborz Mountains, near Sari, Iran

Faraz Qeshm Airlines — Flight

A Faraz Qeshm Airlines Yakovlev Yak-40, carrying Iran's Minister of Transportation and other high-ranking officials, crashed into the Alborz Mountains during poor weather conditions. The flight was en route from Tehran to Gorgan for the inauguration of a new airport when it encountered heavy rain and lightning. Approximately ten minutes before its scheduled arrival, the pilot reported an emergency situation and the need to divert or land immediately. The aircraft subsequently struck a heavily forested mountain slope southeast of Sari, killing all 30 people on board.

Aircraft

Yakovlev Yak-40

Registration

EP-TQP

Phase

Cause

Souls on Board

Fatalities

Origin → Dest

Tehran-Mehrabad Airport, Iran → Gorgan Airport, Iran

Report

Investigation Summary

The flight was operated by Faraz Qeshm Airlines using a Yak-40 leased from Armenian Airlines, staffed by an Armenian flight crew. The passenger manifest was significant, including Minister of Transportation Rahman Dadman, several deputy ministers, and six members of the Iranian parliament. During the flight, weather conditions in the Alborz mountain range deteriorated significantly. Reports indicate the aircraft may have been struck by lightning, which potentially compromised its navigational instruments. The crew contacted air traffic control at approximately 07:35 to report they were unable to continue to Gorgan and were seeking an emergency landing or diversion. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted terrain at an elevation in the mountains. Search and rescue operations were hampered by the dense forest and ongoing severe weather, with the wreckage eventually located 13 miles southeast of Sari.

Final Conclusions

The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) occurring in adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors included heavy rain, lightning strikes that may have affected navigational equipment, and the mountainous topography of the Alborz range. The loss of the entire delegation led to significant political impact in Iran, including the death of the Minister of Transportation and multiple members of parliament.

Video Analysis

No video analysis linked for this case file yet.

Airframe & Maintenance

Airframe Hours

11,156

Cycles

6,706

Engines

Ivchenko AI-25

Systems & Failure Modes

Navigational Equipment

Investigators believe lightning strikes may have affected the aircraft's ability to navigate accurately in low visibility.

Interesting Facts

01The aircraft was leased from Armenian Airlines and operated by an Armenian crew.
02The crash killed the Iranian Minister of Transportation, Rahman Dadman.
03Six members of the Iranian Parliament were among the 25 passengers killed.
04The flight was intended to inaugurate the opening of Gorgan Airport.
05The wreckage was located in a heavily forested area between Gorgan and Shahroud.

Safety Actions & Advisories

Grounding of Yak-40 Fleet

Following the accident, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization temporarily grounded all Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft operating within the country pending a safety review of the type's operations in Iranian airspace.