Sofia Province | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll on runway 09 at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the three engine aircraft was unable to rotate and failed to become airborne. It overran and crashed in a ditch, bursting into flames. Eight occupants were seriously injured while 29 others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the Sofia Airport should be momentarily closed to traffic because the Presidential Tupolev TU-154 of the Republic of Bulgaria was scheduled to takeoff with the Bulgarian President Todor Zhivkov on board. Large delays were expected so ATC cleared the crew to take off but asked him to expedite takeoff. In a certain confusion and in the rush, the crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and forgot to set the trim correctly. As the stabilizer was incorrectly set in the down position, the aircraft was unable to rotate and overran the runway before crashing.

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

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1984 at 1938 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-134

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-TUR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin - Sofia

MSN:

4 35 23 08

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

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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 an Antonov AN-14A near Samokov: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-14

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-7004

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sofia - Haskovo

MSN:

601607

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing an ambulance flight from Sofia to Haskovo when it crashed in the Rila Mountain range located near Samokov. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-ANA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sofia - Varna

MSN:

67302708

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

While parked on apron at Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the airplane was deiced and the snow was removed before the crew was cleared to taxi to runway 10 for takeoff. However, the runway was closed for snow removal. When this was done, the crew was cleared for takeoff and just after liftoff from runway 10, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed on a bank of the Iskar River located by the airport. The copilot was killed and two passengers drowned. All other occupants were rescued, some of them were injured.

Probable cause:

The hold over time (HOT) between the deicing time and the takeoff time was too long and a significant amount of snow accumulated on the fuselage, wings and all critical surfaces. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to take off. The crew failed to request a second deicing.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Sofia

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Bulgarian Air Force - Bulgarski Voennov Azdushni Sili

Registration:

035

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

87304508

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sofia Airport. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Sofia: 28 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1971 at 2332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-BES

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sofia - Algiers

MSN:

185 0081 04

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while climbing by night to a height of 8 meters, the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in a grassy area located on the left side of the runway. Among the debris scattered on a distance of 400 meters, 45 injured people were evacuated while 28 others were killed, among them two crew members and the Bulgarian singer Pacha Hristova who was travelling to Algeria with members of the Bulgarian folklorik band 'Aura'.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the airplane was just returning into service following ground maintenance. For unknown reason, technicians failed to comply with maintenance procedure and it was determined that the aileron control cables were not properly connected.

Crash of an Antonov AN-14A on Mt Sveti Duh: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-14

Operator:

Registration:

LZ-7005

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kardzhali - Sofia

MSN:

601609

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Sveti Duh located in the Rila Mountain Range. The wreckage was found a day later and a passenger was evacuated while eight other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears the accident was the consequence of an ATC error.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B near Sofia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1962 at 0533 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-104

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-42491

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sofia – Moscow

MSN:

0 2 16 04

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1404

Aircraft flight cycles:

628

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport, carrying a load of 12,108 kg of cherries and 1,408 kg of strawberries. Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, while climbing to a height of 400 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine. The pilot-in-command made a slight turn to the left to 5-6° and shut down the left engine 30 seconds later. The airplane continued heading 095° to the altitude of 800 meters then entered in clouds. The crew informed ATC he was dumping the fuel and returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km north of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the failure of the left engine could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the failure occurred at a critical stage of flight and created a complex situation to the crew who was forced to dump the fuel without appropriate assistance from ATC. The lack of radar equipment remains a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Sofia: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Bulgarian Air Force - Bulgarski Voennov Azdushni Sili

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Sofia in poor weather conditions, the aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude, struck power cables and crashed in a field located in Vakarel, 27 km southeast of Sofia Airport. All 5 crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator near Novo Bardo

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11840

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

336

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'The Witch' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Novo Bardo, at the border between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. All 10 crew members evacuated safely. Six were taken PoW and four evaded. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 343th BS.

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