Tehran - Yerevan
Flight / Schedule
Tehran - Yerevan
Aircraft
Tupolev TU-154Registration
EP-CPG
MSN
87A-748
Year of Manufacture
1987
Operator
Caspian AirlinesDate
July 15, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Qazvin Qazvin
Region
Asia • Iran
Coordinates
36.2684°, 50.0019°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On July 15, 2009 at 11:33 AM, Tehran - Yerevan experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-154, operated by Caspian Airlines, with the event recorded near Qazvin Qazvin.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
168 people were known to be on board, 168 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 12, crew fatalities: 12, passengers on board: 156, passenger fatalities: 156, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The three engine aircraft departed Tehran-Imam Khomeiny Airport at 1117LT on a regular schedule flight to Yerevan, carrying 158 passengers and 10 crew members. Sixteen minutes after takeoff, while cruising over Qazvin at FL340, the aircraft suddenly changed its heading to 270° and then entered a rapid descent, losing 20,000 feet in 90 seconds. In a near vertical attitude, the aircraft crashed in an open field, causing a large crater. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 168 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration EP-CPG, MSN 87A-748, year of manufacture 1987.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.2684°, 50.0019°.
Fatalities
Total
168
Crew
12
Passengers
156
Other
0
Crash Summary
The three engine aircraft departed Tehran-Imam Khomeiny Airport at 1117LT on a regular schedule flight to Yerevan, carrying 158 passengers and 10 crew members. Sixteen minutes after takeoff, while cruising over Qazvin at FL340, the aircraft suddenly changed its heading to 270° and then entered a rapid descent, losing 20,000 feet in 90 seconds. In a near vertical attitude, the aircraft crashed in an open field, causing a large crater. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 168 occupants were killed.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
12
Passengers On Board
156
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 168
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Tehran - Yerevan
Operator
Caspian AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Asia • Iran
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Imperial Airways
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
For unknown reasons, the aircraft departed Bandar Lengeh Airport with delay. Thus, the crew started the approach to Jask Airport by night and limited visibility. On short final, the aircraft was too low and impacted the ground short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the the fuel tank ruptured and the aircraft caught fire before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Two passengers were rescued while three other occupants were killed.
Venetia Montagu
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
En route from Tehran to Moscow, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near Sabzevar, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Babar Mirza
Simmonds Spartan
The pilot, sole on board, departed Croydon on a flight to Hyderabad, India. While cruising over Iran, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in a desert area located in the region of Bushehr. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Asiatic Petroleum Company
General Aircraft ST-4 Monospar
Crashed on approach to Chah Bahar Airfield for unknown reasons. The pilot was injured and the airplane was written off.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Douglas DC-2
During the takeoff run at Bushehr Airport, after traveling a distance of some 300 meters and running at a speed of 120 km/h, the aircraft christened 'Maraboe' hit an unevenness on the runway surface. The right main gear broke off and a fuel line was cut. The aircraft went out of control, swerved on runway and eventually came to rest in flames. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
United States Army Air Forces - USAAF
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Shortly after takeoff from Abadan Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft nosed down and crashed, killing all four occupants. The flight was completed on behalf of the 1266th Army Air Force Base Unit, North African Division, Air Transport Command. Crew: Cpl Joseph Brine, 2nd Lt George H. Hafford, 1st Lt Samuel B. Isbell, 1st Lt Richard E. Wheelus.