Greece | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 a Boeing E-3A Sentry in Preveza

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1996

Type of aircraft:

Boeing E-3 Sentry

Operator:

NATO Airborne Early Warning Force

Registration:

LX-N90457

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Preveza - Geilenkirchen

MSN:

22852

YOM:

1984

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Preveza to the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base in Germany. During the takeoff roll at Preveza-Aktion Airport, after V1 speed, the pilot-in-command heard a loud noise. Thinking this was the consequence of a bird strike, he decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a dyke and came to rest partially submerged in the sea. All 16 occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Investigations revealed there were no indications of a possible bird striked during takeoff.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Thessaloniki: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1995 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

TZ-347

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kiev - Tunis - Bamako

MSN:

3303

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was ferried from Kiev to Bamako with an intermediate stop in Tunis following a complete revision at the Antonov factory in Kiev. En route from Kiev to Tunis, while flying over the north part of Greece, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to divert to Thessaloniki-Makedonia Airport. As a radar (instrument) approach was not possible, the crew attempted to land under VFR mode in IMC conditions. On final, in limited visibility due to rain falls and fog, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 4 km short of runway. All six crew members were killed. It is possible that the crew encountered technical problems with fuel.

RA-86846

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Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 near Patras: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1993

Type of aircraft:

Canadair CL-215

Operator:

Registration:

1064

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Elefsis - Elefsis

MSN:

1064

YOM:

1979

Location:

Patras

Peloponnese / Πελοπόννησος

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Patras. Following a scooping mission, it is believed the pilot encountered control problems when the aircraft crashed on hilly terrain, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 off Isthmia

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Canadair CL-215

Operator:

Registration:

1075

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1075

YOM:

1983

Location:

Isthmia

Peloponnese / Πελοπόννησος

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a scooping mission when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances off Isthmia, in the Saronic Gulf, near the Corinth Canal. Both pilots were rescued.

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Athens – Khartoum

MSN:

18715

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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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.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross at Elefsis AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

51-7202

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Elefsis - Elefsis

MSN:

G-270

YOM:

1953

Location:

Elefsis AFB (Elefsina)

Attica / Αττική

Country:

Greece

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a post maintenance test flight at Elefsis AFB. On approach, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK at Tatoi AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KK-171

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tatoi - Thessaloniki

MSN:

15417/26862

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Tatoi AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed in an olive grove some 400 metres past the runway end. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H on Mt Othrys: 63 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1991 at 1251 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

748

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Elefsis - Nea Anchialos

MSN:

4724

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the approach to Nea Anchialos in poor visibility due to bad weather conditions when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Othrys located about 24 km southwest of Nea Anchialos Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 63 occupants were killed.