Investigation Summary
The flight was a high-profile diplomatic charter intended to bring the Turkish delegation to London for the signing of the London Agreement regarding Cyprus. The special flight departed Ankara Esenboğa International Airport and made intermediate stopovers at Istanbul Atatürk and Rome Ciampino. After departing Rome, the crew was informed that Heathrow was closed due to fog and was instructed to divert to Gatwick. The Gatwick weather reported to the crew included mist and shallow ground fog, though an aftercast later suggested a dense fog bank existed west of the airport with tops reaching 700 feet. The aircraft was being vectored for an ILS approach to Runway 08R. During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft overshot the localizer centerline slightly but confirmed it could continue. Radar contact was lost 3 nautical miles from the threshold. The aircraft struck the tops of trees at 390 feet above mean sea level, roughly 550 feet north of the approach centerline. The descent angle through the trees was measured at 6 degrees. The investigation scrutinized the possibility of altimeter misinterpretation or incorrect setting, as the aircraft was well below the glide path, but the destruction of the flight deck instruments by fire and impact prevented a conclusive finding.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the evidence was insufficient to establish the definitive cause of the accident. Investigators ruled out technical failure of the airframe, engines, or ground-based navigation aids. The report highlighted that the aircraft was flying at an altitude lower than required for the approach, but could not determine why the crew allowed the descent into the trees. The prevailing weather conditions, specifically the presence of a fog bank with very low visibility, were considered a significant factor in the Controlled Flight Into Terrain.
Video Analysis
Turkish Airlines Gatwick Crash News Reports & Aftermath Footage | 17 February 1959 London, UK — Archival newsreel footage and reports covering the 1959 crash of the Turkish Prime Minister's aircraft near Gatwick, including scenes of the wreckage and the Prime Minister's recovery.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
A precision approach system providing lateral and vertical guidance; the aircraft was following the ILS path but descended below the required altitude.
Altimeter
Investigators suspected a misread or incorrect pressure setting (QFE) may have led the crew to believe they were higher than their actual altitude.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Vickers Viscount 793, serial number 429, which had 548 total flight hours.
- 02Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes survived the crash with only minor injuries and was rescued by local farmers.
- 03The accident site was located 550 feet north of the extended runway centerline.
- 04The aircraft was equipped with four Rolls-Royce Dart 510 turboprop engines.
- 05The weather report given to the pilot included mist and cloud at 800 feet, though actual observations at the airport showed no low cloud.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Altimeter Setting Procedures
The investigation highlighted the critical nature of accurate QFE settings and altimeter monitoring during instrument approaches in low visibility, particularly when transitioning between different air traffic control units.