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Crash of a Tupolev TU-154A in Varna

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BTD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stockholm - Varna
MSN:
74A058
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
LZ7022
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
127
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Varna Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. The aircraft landed too far down a wet runway 27 and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All 134 occupants, most of them Swedish tourists, were evacuated safely, nevertheless several passengers suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Addis Ababa

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BAD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sofia - Addis Ababa
MSN:
6 3 440 01
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the four engine airplane landed too far down on runway 25 and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest. While all nine occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew completed a wrong approach configuration, making a steep turn too late on final. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The aircraft' speed at touchdown was excessive,
- As the aircraft was too high on approach, it landed too far down the runway, approximately a third past the runway threshold,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around maneuver,
- Poor crew coordination.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Sana'a

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BEP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sofia - Sana'a
MSN:
185 0081 05
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Sana'a Airport was completed in a nose-down attitude, causing the aircraft to land nose gear first. The aircraft bounced four times then landed firmly. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Sofia: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1984 at 1938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-TUR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin - Sofia
MSN:
4 35 23 08
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
The approach to Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport was initiated by night and limited visibility due to snow falls. On short final, the crew descended below the glide when the aircraft struck successively power cables and tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 4 km short of runway threshold, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue the approach below the glide without any visual contact with the runway until impact with obstacles.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154 near Damascus: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-BTB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sofia - Damascus - Sharjah
MSN:
72A027
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
7800
Circumstances:
On approach to Damascus Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the three engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 22 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Sharjah with an intermediate stop in Damascus.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134 in Gabare: 73 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1978 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LZ-TUB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sofia - Warsaw
MSN:
8 35 05 01
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
66
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
73
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the crew informed ATC about an unexpected situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Control was lost from an altitude of 4,900 meters and the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field located near the village of Gabare. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 73 occupants were killed.