Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled domestic service from Samsun to Ankara. During the final stages of the flight, the crew initiated an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Esenboğa International Airport. Meteorological conditions at the time included severe turbulence and limited visibility. While established on the approach, the aircraft drifted away from the normal localizer course. The combination of the navigational deviation and the environmental conditions led the aircraft to fly into the side of a hill in the Çubuk district. The impact occurred at 4,600 feet, significantly below the safe altitude for that segment of the approach given the aircraft's lateral position. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. Of the 45 people on board, 41 died (38 passengers and 3 crew members), while 4 survived (3 passengers and 1 crew member). Note: There is a discrepancy in historical records regarding the total count; while official records cite 41 fatalities based on 45 souls on board, contemporary reports such as the Washington Post initially reported 39 fatalities, likely due to differing early counts of the total number of passengers (39 vs 41).
Final Conclusions
The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The primary factors were the crew's deviation from the localizer course during an ILS approach and the presence of extreme turbulence which likely complicated flight path management.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
A precision runway approach aid which the crew deviated from prior to the impact.
Localizer
The component of the ILS providing lateral guidance; the crew failed to maintain the course defined by this signal.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named Trabzon and was six years old at the time of the crash.
- 02The aircraft's manufacturer serial number (MSN) was 11071.
- 03The crash site was located 32km (20mi) north-northeast of the destination airport.
- 04There were four survivors in total: three passengers and one crew member.
- 05The aircraft was powered by two Rolls-Royce RB183-2 Spey Mk555-15 turbofan engines.
- 06The crew deviated from the localizer course while experiencing severe turbulence during the ILS approach.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Pitot-Static System Investigation
Source ↗Investigators identified that the pitot-static anti-ice system was a factor in the accident, leading to recommendations regarding its operation in severe weather conditions.