What happened
On the day of the accident, a Middle East Airlines flight, operating a Vickers Viscount registered OD-ADE, was performing a descent toward Ankara-Esenboğa Airport. The aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 03 and had reported its position over the Ankara NDB at approximately 8000 feet, intending to descend to 6500 feet.
Simultaneously, a Turkish Air Force Douglas C-47 transport plane, registered CBK-2FR, was returning to Etimesgut Air Base following an instrument training mission. This military aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) after completing its maneuvers in the Gölbasi region.
While the Viscount was traveling on a heading of 283°, it intercepted the C-47, which was flying on a heading of 243°. The Vickers Viscount struck the C-47 from behind at a 40-degree angle. The impact involved the nose and starboard wing of the airliner hitting the port side door area of the military aircraft. During the collision, the third propeller of the Viscount severed the left horizontal stabilizer of the C-47, while the fourth propeller damaged the right horizontal stabilizer.
The structural damage was severe; a section of the Viscount's fuselage skin broke away near the passenger windows, causing some passengers to fall from the aircraft. Following the impact, the two planes briefly flew together before separating. The C-47 lost its tail unit and plummeted vertically, while the Viscount nosed down shortly after. Both aircraft crashed into a residential district of Ankara. The accident resulted in 87 fatalities on the ground and 50 serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the collision identified several contributing factors. The crew of the Vickers Viscount failed to observe the C-47, which was flying at an altitude below 7000 feet. Although the pilots attempted an evasive maneuver by pulling up at the last moment, the higher speed of the airliner prevented them from avoiding the strike.
Key findings included:
- The pilot of the Viscount made a navigational estimation error regarding the distance between the Gölbasi beacon and the Ankara NDB.
- The aircraft was operating under IFR flight plan parameters while cruising in VFR conditions.
- Radio communication procedures used by the crew did not adhere to standard international protocols.
- The C-47 was conducting a training flight where the student pilot's visibility was partially obscured by specialized flight panels, though the instructor maintained a lookout.