1977-01-18: Learjet 25 (YU-BJH) — Yugoslav Government — Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

8 fatalitiesSarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaLanding (descent or approach)

A flight carrying the Yugoslav Prime Minister crashed into a mountainside during its approach to Sarajevo-Butmir Airport, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

On the flight from Batajnica Airbase to Sarajevo, an airplane operating under callsign YU001 was performing its descent toward Sarajevo-Butmir Airport. During this phase of the flight, the crew encountered adverse weather conditions that reduced visibility. While attempting an approach, the aircraft struck the side of Mt Inač, a peak reaching 1,366 metres, situated near the village of Kreševo. The impact occurred approximately 30 km northwest of its destination. The wreckage was destroyed, and all eight fatalities were recorded among the passengers and crew.

Findings

Investigations into the accident concluded that the crash was a controlled flight into terrain. Several critical errors contributed to the disaster, most notably an incorrect approach configuration. Specific contributing factors included:

  • The final turn of the maneuver was executed 2.7 NM beyond the intended course.
  • The aircraft maintained an altitude that was too low to safely clear the surrounding mountainous terrain.
  • The airspeed at the moment of impact exceeded the target speed by more than 37 knots.
  • Poor visibility due to inclement weather hindered the crew's ability to navigate the approach effectively.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from a controlled flight into terrain caused by pilot errors during an approach in poor visibility, including an incorrect turn and insufficient altitude.