| Date: | Tuesday 21 December 1971 |
| Time: | 23:40 |
| Type: |  Ilyushin Il-18V |
| Owner/operator: | Balkan Bulgarian Airlines |
| Registration: | LZ-BES |
| MSN: | 185008104 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1965 |
| Engine model: | Ivchenko AI-20K |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 28 / Occupants: 73 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport (SOF) -
 Bulgaria
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport (SOF/LBSF) |
| Algiers-Dar el Beida Airport (ALG/DAAG) |
Crashed on takeoff.
The aircraft had just undergone extensive maintenance. Reportedly the elevator controls were crossed, causing a control reversal.
The aircraft carried Bulgarian cultural delegation, among others the Sofia Orchestra, to festivities in Algeria. A well known singer, Pasha Hristova, was killed in the crash.
Sources:
Soviet Transports
Location
Images:
photo (c) Ralf P. Kokoschka; Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel Airport (HAM/EDDH); 10 July 1969
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation