Flight Information
The aircraft was operating a special flight from Ankara to London via Rome, carrying Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and a party of Turkish government officials. The aircraft departed Rome at 13:02.
Diversion and Approach
After passing Abbeville, the flight called London Airways at 15:56 and was cleared to the Epsom Radio Range station, the holding point for London Airport. Due to poor visibility at London (Heathrow) Airport, the airport commandant decided to inform the captain to divert to Gatwick. At 16:21, the aircraft reported over the Epsom range and received diversion instructions. At 16:27, it left Epsom for Mayfield, the holding point for Gatwick, where Gatwick Approach Control informed the crew that radar would position the aircraft for an ILS approach to runway 09. The latest weather report for Gatwick indicated calm wind, visibility 1.1 nautical miles, mist, cloud 3 oktas at 600 feet, and QFE 1036 mb. Over the Mayfield NDB at 4,000 feet, the flight was instructed to steer 280° and descend to 2,000 feet, which was acknowledged. A further descent clearance to 1,500 feet was given. The aircraft overshot the center line slightly while turning onto the ILS approach path. At 5 nautical miles from touchdown, the aircraft affirmed it could continue on the ILS. TC-SEV was then asked to change to tower frequency, which was acknowledged—the last communication with the aircraft.
Accident Sequence
At a position approximately 5 kilometers from the runway threshold and 550 feet north of the approach path centerline, the aircraft contacted the tops of trees at 390 feet above mean sea level at the edge of Jordan's Wood. The aircraft began to disintegrate as it descended through the trees at an angle of about 6 degrees from the horizontal until its wheels contacted the ground. After rising slightly again, the main wreckage came to rest about 100 yards further on and caught fire.
Aftermath
Prime Minister Adnan Menderes survived the accident along with nine other people. Fourteen other occupants were killed, including five crew members.