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154 fatalities

Nighttime Controlled Flight into Terrain Near Isparta (TC-JBH)

Isparta, TurkeyLanding (descent or approach)

On September 19, 1976, a Boeing 727-200 (registration TC-JBH) operated by Turkish Airlines - THY Türk Hava Yollari was involved in an aviation accident near Isparta, Turkey during landing or approach. 154 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft descended at night under VFR to Isparta instead of Antalya after the crew mistook Isparta's city lights for Antalya's, causing a premature descent and a controlled flight into terrain due to navigational errors and lack of visual references. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 16 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered TC-JBH
Aircraft registered TC-JBH. Photo: Fergus Abraham / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A scheduled flight from Istanbul to Antalya descended under VFR at night and struck Mt Karakaya near Isparta, killing all 154 occupants.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft departed Istanbul-Yeşilköy Airport at 2245LT on a scheduled flight to Antalya, carrying 146 passengers and a crew of eight. After passing over the Afyon VOR at 25,000 feet, the crew requested permission to descend to 13,000 feet. At 2311LT, the captain reported seeing Antalya city lights and began the descent to runway 36. The aircraft's actual position was approximately 100 km north of Antalya. Four minutes later, while descending at night under VFR at 3,700 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Karakaya, which is 1,371 metres high and located south of Isparta. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, with debris found at an altitude of 1,130 metres. All 154 occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The aircraft descended at night under VFR to Isparta instead of Antalya after the crew mistook Isparta's city lights for Antalya's, causing a premature descent and a controlled flight into terrain due to navigational errors and lack of visual references.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same aircraft family

Same operator

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Sept 1976 Boeing 727-200 accident near Isparta, Turkey?

A scheduled flight from Istanbul to Antalya descended under VFR at night and struck Mt Karakaya near Isparta, killing all 154 occupants.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Sept 1976 Boeing 727-200 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 154 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Sept 1976 involved a Boeing 727-200, registration TC-JBH, operated by Turkish Airlines - THY Türk Hava Yollari, at Isparta, Turkey.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft descended at night under VFR to Isparta instead of Antalya after the crew mistook Isparta's city lights for Antalya's, causing a premature descent and a controlled flight into terrain due to navigational errors and lack of visual references.

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