Accident description
languages:
| Status: | |
| Date: | 20 AUG 1975 |
| Time: | 01:13 |
| Type: | Ilyushin 62 |
| Operator: | CSA Ceskoslovenské Aerolinie |
| Registration: | OK-DBF |
| C/n / msn: | 31502 |
| First flight: | 1973 |
| Engines: | 4 Kuznetsov NK-8-4 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 115 / Occupants: 117 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 126 / Occupants: 128 |
| Airplane damage: | Destroyed |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 17 km (10.6 mls) NE of Damascus (Syria)
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| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Praha-Ruzyne International Airport (PRG/LKPR), Czech Republic |
| Damascus International Airport (DAM/OSDI), Syria | |
| Flightnumber: | 540 |
CSA Flight 540 was a regular international service from Prague (PRG) to Tehran (THR) via Damascus (DAM) and Baghdad (SDA). The Il-62 "Brno Trade Fair" took off from Prague at 19:35, August 19.
Past midnight local time, the airplane approached Damascus. Weather was fine with good visibility and wind 230 degrees at 10 kts. The flight was cleared for an approach to runway 23R. About 17 km from the airport, the Il-62 struck level ground 605m asl. The airplane broke up and caught fire.
It was deemed possible that the crew mixed up QNH and QFE while programming the altimeter.
Events:
Sources:
» Soviet Transports
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Statistics
6th loss of a Ilyushin 62
3rd worst accident involving a Ilyushin 62 (at the time)
5th worst accident involving a Ilyushin 62 (currently)
The worst accident in Syria (at the time)
The worst accident in Syria (currently) » figures explained
3rd worst accident involving a Ilyushin 62 (at the time)
5th worst accident involving a Ilyushin 62 (currently)
The worst accident in Syria (at the time)
The worst accident in Syria (currently) » figures explained
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Praha-Ruzyne International Airport (PRG/LKPR) to Damascus International Airport (DAM/OSDI) as the crow flies is 2579 km (1612 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
Distance from Praha-Ruzyne International Airport (PRG/LKPR) to Damascus International Airport (DAM/OSDI) as the crow flies is 2579 km (1612 miles).
