Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-230, serial number 22635/774, registered D-ABHD. It first flew on 15 June 1981 and was delivered to Condor in July of that year. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A engines. The cockpit crew consisted of Captain Wolfgang Hechler, aged 48, a former Starfighter pilot, and First Officer Helmut Zöller, aged 33.
Accident Description
Condor Flugdienst Flight 3782 was an international charter flight from Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, West Germany, to Adnan Menderes Airport in Turkey. The flight was uneventful until the final approach. The crew, with the first officer acting as pilot flying, was cleared for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to the Outer Marker (a non-directional beacon) and then to Runway 35. The aircraft's ILS receiver was switched on after it had passed the NDB, causing the crew to miss the turn. Confused, the crew then followed the wrong side beam of the ILS. The aircraft struck Dümentepe Hill, located 10.5 nautical miles (19.4 km) from the airport, resulting in the deaths of all 16 people on board.
Investigation
Analysis of the cockpit voice recorder revealed that Captain Hechler continuously spoke to First Officer Zöller during the approach phase, criticizing, lambasting, and insulting him, sometimes on matters unrelated to duty or work. The investigation concluded that the accident occurred due to the incorrect use of navigation aids. The primary cause was attributed to the lack of adherence to company procedures, particularly regarding crew coordination during approach and basic instrument flying procedures.