What happened
On a flight traveling from Athens-Ellinikon Airport toward Thessaloniki, the crew initiated a climb to 3,000 feet while maintaining a heading of 240°. After receiving clearance to ascend further to an altitude of 9,000 feet, the aircraft proceeded through the airspace. During the flight, the captain provided air traffic control with a position report as the plane approached Mt Parnis under favorable weather conditions.
Approximately five minutes after this communication, the aircraft vanished from radar surveillance. The investigation determined that the plane crashed in the vicinity of Avlona. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused 19 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Technical analysis revealed that a mechanical failure occurred within the left engine, specifically involving the gudgeon pin bearing of the sixth piston. This component failure led to an immediate and violent breakage of the engine. The momentum of the propeller at the time of the engine's disintegration caused the propeller shaft to fail as well.
The resulting detached propeller continued to rotate, striking and inflicting severe damage to the left wing. This structural damage caused the left wing to separate from the airframe, leading to a total loss of control and the subsequent impact.