Sofia - Algiers
Flight / Schedule
Sofia - Algiers
Aircraft
Ilyushin II-18Registration
LZ-BES
MSN
185 0081 04
Year of Manufacture
1965
Operator
Balkan Bulgarian AirlinesDate
December 21, 1971 at 11:32 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Sofia-Vrazhdebna Sofia Province
Region
Europe • Bulgaria
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 21, 1971 at 11:32 PM, Sofia - Algiers experienced a crash involving Ilyushin II-18, operated by Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, with the event recorded near Sofia-Vrazhdebna Sofia Province.
The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
73 people were known to be on board, 28 fatalities were recorded, 45 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 38.4%.
Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 62, passenger fatalities: 26, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. 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'.
Aircraft reference details include registration LZ-BES, MSN 185 0081 04, year of manufacture 1965.
Fatalities
Total
28
Crew
2
Passengers
26
Other
0
Crash Summary
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'.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
11
Passengers On Board
62
Estimated Survivors
45
Fatality Rate
38.4%
Known people on board: 73
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Sofia - Algiers
Operator
Balkan Bulgarian AirlinesFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • Bulgaria
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Prince Jean Ghica
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The pilot/owner Prince Jean Ghica was attempting a non stop flight from Bicester, Oxfordshire, to Istanbul. While flying over the Region of Teteven, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was slightly injured.
Compagnie Internationale de Navigation Aérienne - CIDNA
Fokker F7
The aircraft departed Istanbul at 1600LT bound for Bucharest. While cruising over the region of Mokren, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and atmospheric turbulences. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Kurudjevo, bursting into flames. All seven occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Both crew members were French and among the passengers were three British and two Americans. The wreckage was recovered to rebuilt the same aircraft with the same MSN. This second aircraft also registered F-ALGT crashed in Romania on 15 September 1931. Rebuilt a second time with other wings and MSN 24, it crashed a third time in Vienna on 23 November 1935. Crew: Louis Bonnetête, pilot, Mr. This, radio operator. Passengers: Rutgers Barclay, Pauline Kest, Mr. Crush, Mr. Repton +1.
LOT Polish Airlines - Polskie Linie Lotnicze
Douglas DC-2
Crew was flying in poor weather conditions when the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Pirin located some 40 km northeast of Petrich, southwest part of Bulgaria. All six occupants were killed.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Junkers JU.52
While on a regular scheduled flight from Athens to Sofia, the three engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Petrich, south Bulgaria. All 13 occupants were killed and the aircraft christened 'Otto von Beaulieu-Marconay' was destroyed.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The aircraft christened 'The Witch' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploie<U+0219>ti. 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.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
While cruising over the north of Bulgaria in good weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and dove into the ground. The crew was performing a flight from San Punersio to Giurgiu. All ten occupants were killed.