Investigation Summary
Flight 158 was a multi-leg service originating in Paris with a stopover in Istanbul. During the final approach to Ankara, the crew encountered severe winter weather including driving snow and wind shear. The aircraft, a Boeing 727-200 Advanced model, lost altitude rapidly, likely due to downdrafts, and impacted the ground 150 meters (492 feet) short of the runway. Upon impact, the fuselage struck an obstacle, fractured into three pieces, and skidded onto the runway surface. A major fire erupted in the center section, which accounted for the majority of the 47 deaths. Survivors were largely concentrated in the tail section, which was thrown clear of the main fire during the breakup. Rescue efforts were significantly hampered by the same blizzard conditions that caused the crash, leading to a secondary tragedy where four people died in a taxi collision while rushing to the airport to assist. The aircraft, MSN 21603/1389, was approximately five years old at the time of the loss.
Final Conclusions
The accident was attributed to the aircraft undershooting the runway while attempting to land in adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors included driving snow, gusty winds, and suspected wind shear or downdrafts that caused the aircraft to lose height during the final stages of the approach.
Video Analysis
Turkish Airlines Flight 158 Aftermath Footage — Historical footage showing the wreckage of the Turkish Airlines Boeing 727 'Afyon' after it crashed short of the runway in Ankara during a snowstorm in 1983.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Landing Gear
The aircraft impacted the ground short of the runway, causing the gear to collapse or be torn away as the fuselage broke up.
Fuel System
The rupture of fuel lines or tanks during the breakup led to a massive fire in the center section of the aircraft.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named 'Afyon' and was only five years old at the time of the accident.
- 02All 7 crew members survived the crash despite the total destruction of the aircraft.
- 03The middle section of the fuselage suffered the most intense fire, leading to the high fatality rate among passengers seated there.
- 04Four people not on the flight were killed in a vehicle collision involving taxis attempting to reach the crash site.
- 05The airport remained closed until the following afternoon to facilitate the recovery of flight recorders.