What happened
During an approach to Ercan Airport, the flight crew began their descent amidst marginal weather conditions and restricted visibility. While following a VOR approach, the captain decided to cancel the IFR flight plan. During this process, the aircraft descended to 2,000 feet ahead of the planned procedure. In an attempt to maneuver around a mountain peak measuring 954 meters, the pilot initiated a turn, but the aircraft subsequently collided with the mountain slope.
The impact occurred roughly 16 km north of the destination airport. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were no survivors among the 15 fatalities recorded on board. The flight was being operated on behalf of JAT Yugoslav Airlines and carried a mix of crew and passengers, including Turkish, Yugoslav, and British nationals.
Findings
- The descent to 2,000 feet was performed prematurely following the cancellation of the IFR flight plan.
- The pilot's decision to descend below safe altitude while maneuvering to avoid terrain led to the collision with the mountainside.