Athens-Ellinikon

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Athens - Thessaloniki - Frankfurt

MSN:

20791

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

OA171

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Thessaloniki Airport was completed in poor weather conditions. The aircraft landed too far down the runway and after touchdown, the crew realized he could not stop the aircraft within the remaining distance so he decided to veer off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft came to rest. All 35 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the wind was from 360° at 18 knots gusting to 28 knots with thunderstorm activity, rain falls and a visibility of 5 km.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
- Poor weather conditions,
- The runway surface was wet and the braking action was considered as moderate to low,
- The flying crew consisted of two highly experienced captains,
- The crew was under stress during the final approach due to poor weather conditions,
- Wrong approach configuration as the aircraft was too high on the glide,
- The crew failed to follow the approach checklist,
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway, about a third past its threshold, reducing the landing distance available,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Paros

Date & Time: May 2, 1997 at 1722 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO228

Operator:

Registration:

SX-BHG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

South Aegean / Νότιο Αιγαίο

Schedule:

Athens - Paros

MSN:

8061

YOM:

1985

Flight number:

ML074

Location:

Paros Island

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Paros Island Airport, the twin engine aircraft nosed down, lost height and struck the ground 1,3 metre short of runway threshold. On impact, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft slid for 166 metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 20 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Kinshasa: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1996

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-76

Operator:

Hoseba

Registration:

UR-76539

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Schedule:

Kinshasa - Athens

MSN:

00334 42234

YOM:

1983

Location:

Kinshasa-N'Djili

Kinshasa City Province

Country:

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2134

Aircraft flight cycles:

1358

Circumstances:

While taxiing backwards at Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport, the crew used thrust reversers and failed to extend the flaps prior to takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the nose gear lifted off. Despite the aircraft failed to take off, the crew did not reject the takeoff procedure and continued. The aircraft adopted a high nose up attitude and a super critical angle of attack. It rolled for about 3,800 metres, overran, rolled for another 800 metres when it struck irregularities on the ground. On impact, the right wing was torn off and the aircraft crashed, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed. The aircraft was on its way to Athens, carrying a load consisting of engine and spare parts.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to extend flaps prior to takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight preparation,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Misunderstanding by the crew about the aircraft configuration,
- The pilot-in-command failed to reject takeoff.
- Crew's fatigue,
- The aircraft was not equipped with an alarm in case of wrong flaps' position.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C in Athens: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1992 at 0702 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

ST-ALX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Athens – Khartoum

MSN:

18715

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Athens-Ellinikon was initiated by night and marginal weather conditions with mist. On approach, the captain informed ATC he was established on the ILS runway 33R when he realized something was wrong and initiated a go-around. This decision was too late and the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Hymettus (2,000 feet high) located 4,8 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The captain decided to initiate the approach to Athens Airport under VFR mode while the visibility was limited. It was determined that the aircraft was not established on the ILS runway 33R at the time of the accident and deviated from the prescribed approach path following a wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to comply with published approach procedures.

Ground fire of a Boeing 737-266 in Luqa: 60 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1985 at 2020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

SU-AYH

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Athens - Cairo

MSN:

21191

YOM:

1976

Flight number:

MS648

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On November 23, at 19:35 the EgyptAir Boeing 737 was hijacked by 3 men. The Egyptian security guard who was onboard shot and killed one of the hijackers before being shot and wounded himself, along with two flight attendants. Although the hijackers demanded to be flown to Tunisia or Libya, they agreed to land at Malta for refueling were it landed at 21:15. At Malta, the two wounded cabin crew members were released, along with 11 women. Because Maltese authorities refused to refuel the plane unless all passengers were released, the hijackers threatened to kill a passenger every 10 minutes. A total of 5 additional people were shot and thrown off the aircraft, two of them were killed. After 22 hours of negotiation the plane was stormed by Egyptian forces. In the fight which followed hand grenades were thrown into the passenger cabin, causing a fire.

Probable cause:

Aircraft hijacked and then partially destroyed by grenade explosion and fire arms.

Crash of a Beechcraft RU-21A Ute off Athens

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1985 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

67-18112

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors: