What happened
During an instrument approach toward the runway 03 threshold at Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, the aircraft type impacted a hillside. The incident took place while the flight was descending to an altitude of 3,500 feet on a heading of 031. The collision occurred approximately 9.6 km before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused 42 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the flight was operating significantly below its intended glide path at the time of the collision, measuring 1,100 feet lower than required. The primary factor identified was an unintentional descent below the authorized minimum flight altitude during the final approach phase. While the deviation from the prescribed altitude led to the terrain strike, the specific reason why the aircraft descended below these limits could not be determined due to a lack of definitive evidence.