What happened
A scheduled multi-leg flight traveling from London to Tel Aviv via several Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cities was conducting its departure from Ankara. The segment from Istanbul was being operated by British European Airways on behalf of Cyprus Airways. The aircraft, a Vickers Viscount, departed from runway 21 after a 46-minute ground stop in light snow.
The flight crew included one captain and two first officers, accompanied by four cabin members and 27 passengers. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft utilized approximately 9,027 feet of available runway. The takeoff weight was recorded at 53,465 kg, which was within regulated limits.
Shortly after the aircraft became airborne, it began an abnormally steep ascent. Witnesses reported that the climb angle reached between 45° and 50°, significantly higher than standard procedures. During this period, observers noted a wing drop and fluctuations in engine noise. The aircraft subsequently stalled with its left wing lowered at an altitude of approximately 450 feet before descending toward the ground. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in 27 fatalities (comprising all 7 crew members and 20 passengers) and 6 serious injuries.
Findings
The investigation determined that a mechanical failure occurred within the cockpit instrumentation. Specifically, the obstruction of the pitch pointer in the captain's director horizon caused the pilot to initiate an excessively steep climb immediately after liftoff.