Accident Overview
During cruise in poor weather conditions, a twin-engine aircraft collided with the slope of Mt. Vezhen, a 2,198-meter peak in the Stara Planina Mountain Range. The wreckage was discovered a few hours later approximately 20 meters below the summit. All 30 occupants on board were killed.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, visibility was nil due to heavy snowfall, preventing the crew from visually identifying the mountain.
Flight Path and Procedure
After takeoff from Sofia Airport, the crew was required to follow a 15-kilometer circuit around the capital city to reach a minimum altitude of 1,500 meters before proceeding northeast. However, the crew elected to ignore this procedure and proceeded directly northeast after departure.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the crew's decision to deviate from the prescribed departure procedure, apparently to save time and fuel, which led to the aircraft approaching the mountain range at an insufficient altitude. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered a contributory factor.