Country
Greece
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Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-500 off Athens: 37 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1972 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
NAMC YS-11
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BBQ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kerkyra - Athens
MSN:
2155
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
OA506
Location:
Athens-Ellinikon
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kerkyra Airport, the crew started the descent in poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to the night. On final approach in stormy weather, the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 5 km offshore. 16 occupants were rescued while 37 others, including a crew members were killed. The wreckage sank by a depth of 12 meters but was recovered a day later and brought back onto the beach.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains undetermined but it is believed that it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain (water surface) while approaching Athens-Ellinikon Airport in limited visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Learjet 25B off Antibes: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Registration:
SX-ASO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Athens - Nice
MSN:
25-074
YOM:
1971
Location:
Antibes
Alpes-Maritimes
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport, while on a positioning flight from Athens-Ellinikon Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Antibes. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Kerkyra

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Athens - Kerkyra
MSN:
45544/1026
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kerkyra
Ionian Islands / Ιόνια νησιά
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
62
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Kerkyra-Ioánnis Kapodístrias Airport runway 35, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on runway then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 450 feet further. All 67 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt Paneio: 90 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1969 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
SX-DAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Canea - Athens
MSN:
45540
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
OA954
Location:
Mt Paneio
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
85
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
90
Circumstances:
While descending to Athens-Hellinikon Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. An activ thunderstorm area was located south of the airport so the crew started an ILS approach but modified his track to the northeast over the region of Keratea. While flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet with its undercarriage retracted, the four engine aircraft passed over the city of Keratea then struck the slope of Mt Paneio located about 20 km southeast of Hellinikon Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of 90 occupants survived.
Probable cause:
The pilots were unable to distinguish the mountain due to low visibility caused by night and poor weather conditions. While slightly off track on approach, the airplane struck a mountain slope and was destroyed. The accident is considered to be the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Avlona: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1959 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BAD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Athens – Thessaloniki
MSN:
9491
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
OA214
Location:
Avlona
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Athens-Ellinikon Airport at 1501LT bound for Tessaloniki. The crew climbed to an altitude of 3,000 feet with a 240° heading and later received the permission to climb to 9,000 feet. While approaching Mt Parnis in good weather conditions, the captain informed ATC about his position. Five minutes later, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed near Avlona. The airplane was totally destroyed upon impact and all 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the failure of the gudgeon pin bearing of no.6 piston of the left engine, which resulted in the abrupt breaking of the engine. Inertia of the propeller at the moment of the breaking of the engine caused failure of the propeller shaft. The broken propeller, rotating, caused serious cuts on the left wing. The latter then separated and loss of control followed.
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