41 fatalities

1979-12-23: Fokker F28 Fellowship (TC-JAT) — Turkish Airlines - THY Türk Hava Yollari — Ankara, Turkey

Ankara, TurkeyLanding (descent or approach)

On December 23, 1979, a Fokker F28 Fellowship (registration TC-JAT) operated by Turkish Airlines - THY Türk Hava Yollari was involved in an aviation accident near Ankara, Turkey during landing or approach. 41 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft drifted from its established approach path for unidentified reasons during a period of low visibility. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781224427Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Ankara, Turkey, resulting in 41 fatalities and several serious injuries during its approach to the airport.

What happened

During an approach to Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, the flight encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by fog and reduced visibility. While navigating through these weather patterns, the aircraft type drifted away from its intended approach trajectory. This deviation led to a collision with the slope of Mt Cubuk, situated approximately 32 km north of the airfield.

The accident resulted in a high number of casualties among those on board. Records indicate that 41 fatalities occurred during the impact. Additionally, one crew member and three passengers sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash.

Probable cause

The aircraft drifted from its established approach path for unidentified reasons during a period of low visibility.