1963 ANKARA PLANE Crash | NATIONAL DISASTER!
On February 1, 1963, a Viscount passenger aircraft belonging to Middle East Airlines (MEA), Lebanon's flag carrier, was preparing for flight 265. After takeoff from Nicosia Airport in Cyprus, the flight was scheduled to take several hours before landing at Ankara Esenboğa Airport. The British-built Viscount was one of the most advanced aircraft of its time, with a pressurized cabin, capable of climbing to high altitudes, and comfortable and safe. It could carry 75 passengers. However, that day, it took off from Cyprus with 11 passengers, far below its capacity. The 11 passengers were to be accompanied by two pilots and a flight attendant.
At 4:04 PM, the Lebanese aircraft contacted Esenboğa Airport's approach control and was cleared to descend from 18,500 feet to 10,500 feet. At 12,500 feet, the aircraft passed over Gölbaşı and continued its descent. At 4:07 PM, the Lebanese aircraft reported reaching 10,000 feet. Two minutes later, descending to 8,000 feet, the aircraft passed over Ankara's NDB. The aircraft was scheduled to land on Esenboğa Runway 03, and the aircraft continued its descent from 8,000 feet to 6,500 feet until it encountered a nasty surprise at 7,000 feet.
While the Lebanese aircraft continued its descent over Ankara toward Esenboğa Airport, a Turkish Air Force C-47 was nearing the end of a routine training flight. The C-47, which took off from Ankara's Etimesgut Airport at 2:22 PM, completed the training portion of the flight and returned to Etimesgut Airport after approximately one and a half hours of training.
A Lebanese Viscount descending for landing at Esenboğa and an Air Force C-47 returning from a training flight to Etimesgut collided mid-air over Akköprü at an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,133 meters). The collision is estimated to have occurred sometime between 4:12 PM and 4:14 PM.
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