Sofia - Warsaw
Flight / Schedule
Sofia - Warsaw
Aircraft
Tupolev TU-134Registration
LZ-TUB
MSN
8 35 05 01
Year of Manufacture
1968
Operator
Balkan Bulgarian AirlinesDate
March 16, 1978 at 01:00 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Gabare Vratsa
Region
Europe • Bulgaria
Coordinates
43.3088°, 23.9139°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On March 16, 1978 at 01:00 PM, Sofia - Warsaw experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-134, operated by Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, with the event recorded near Gabare Vratsa.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
73 people were known to be on board, 73 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 66, passenger fatalities: 66, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. After takeoff from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the crew informed ATC about an unexpected situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Control was lost from an altitude of 4,900 meters and the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field located near the village of Gabare. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 73 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration LZ-TUB, MSN 8 35 05 01, year of manufacture 1968.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 43.3088°, 23.9139°.
Fatalities
Total
73
Crew
7
Passengers
66
Other
0
Crash Summary
After takeoff from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the crew informed ATC about an unexpected situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Control was lost from an altitude of 4,900 meters and the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field located near the village of Gabare. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 73 occupants were killed.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
66
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 73
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Sofia - Warsaw
Operator
Balkan Bulgarian AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • Bulgaria
Aircraft Details
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