Aircraft crash during emergency approach at Adana-Şakirpaşa Airport

1 fatality • Adana-Şakirpaşa, Turkey • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft flying from Damascus to Ankara crashed during an attempted emergency landing at Adana-Şakirpaşa Airport following cabin pressurization issues.

What happened

While operating a flight from Damascus to Ankara, the crew reported difficulties regarding cabin pressurization to air traffic control. In response to this emergency, the aircraft was authorized to divert to Adana-Şakirpaşa Airport for an unscheduled landing.

During the initial approach, the pilot encountered heavy snowfall which significantly reduced visibility. Because the runway could not be visually identified, a go-around procedure was initiated. During a subsequent attempt to land, the aircraft descended to an insufficient altitude and struck the ground. The impact caused the undercarriage to separate from the airframe, and the plane slid approximately twenty meters before catching fire. The wreckage came to a stop roughly 2 km before reaching the threshold of runway 05.

As a result of the accident, there were one fatality and four injuries among the crew members.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck the ground at an insufficient altitude during a second landing attempt in low-visibility conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1972-01-20 Douglas DC-9 accident near Adana-Şakirpaşa, Turkey?

An aircraft flying from Damascus to Ankara crashed during an attempted emergency landing at Adana-Şakirpaşa Airport following cabin pressurization issues.

Were there any fatalities in the 1972-01-20 Douglas DC-9 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1972-01-20 involved a Douglas DC-9, registration TC-JAC, operated by Turkish Airlines - THY Türk Hava Yollari, at Adana-Şakirpaşa, Turkey.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft struck the ground at an insufficient altitude during a second landing attempt in low-visibility conditions.

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