Investigation Summary
The flight was a domestic scheduled service from Ankara to Van operated by a Boeing 737-400 (MSN 26074/2376) manufactured in 1993. Upon arrival, the crew encountered severe winter weather, including heavy driving snow that reduced visibility from 900 meters to 300 meters. Air traffic control advised the crew against further landing attempts, but the pilots elected to perform a third approach to Runway 03. During this final attempt, the aircraft deviated from the safe approach path and struck a hill in the Edremit district. The impact occurred at an elevation of 1,700 meters (5,700 feet) above mean sea level. While 19 people survived the initial impact and subsequent wreckage, 57 others, including five crew members, were killed. At the time, it was the deadliest accident involving the Boeing 737-400 series.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded the primary cause was Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) resulting from pilot error. The flight crew failed to adhere to established weather minima and ignored explicit warnings from air traffic control regarding the hazardous conditions. By continuing the approach in visibility far below the required standards for a VOR-DME procedure, the crew lost situational awareness relative to the surrounding mountainous terrain.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR-DME
The non-precision navigation system used by the crew to attempt the approach to Runway 03.
CFM56-3C1 Engines
The two high-bypass turbofan engines powering the Boeing 737-400.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named 'Mersin', carried MSN 26074/2376, and was manufactured in 1993.
- 02Visibility at the time of the accident was reported as 900 meters, reducing to 300 meters in heavy snow.
- 03Air traffic control had specifically warned the crew not to attempt further approaches due to the snowstorm.
- 04The crash occurred during the third approach attempt, though some databases record it as the second.
- 05The crash was the deadliest involving a Boeing 737-400 until the 2007 crash of Adam Air Flight 574.
- 06Two crew members and 17 passengers survived the impact with serious injuries.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Adherence to Weather Minima
The accident reinforced the critical importance of strict adherence to published approach minima and the necessity of diverting when weather conditions fall below safe operational limits.