What happened
A commercial flight operating a route from Nicosia via Adana to Ankara ended in a fatal accident during the arrival phase. The aircraft was performing a descent from flight level 165 to 90 while approaching Ankara. After receiving clearance to land, the crew communicated with Esenboga Tower.
At 1801Z, the pilot confirmed that the aircraft had departed the Ankara radio range. Approximately one minute following this transmission, the aircraft type crashed and caught fire. The impact occurred roughly 18 km from the left side of the extended centerline of runway 03. The accident resulted in 28 fatalities (comprising 4 crew members and 24 passengers), while one passenger survived with minor injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the aircraft was not following the standard approach pattern during its descent. The primary factor contributing to the accident was that the aircraft was flying below the prescribed altitude for a normal approach.