Turkish Airlines Flight 301

38°17′21″N 27°09′18″E / 38.28917°N 27.15500°E / 38.28917; 27.15500

Turkish Airlines Flight 301
TC-JAO, the aircraft involved in the accident, photographed in 1973
Accident
Date26 January 1974 (1974-01-26)
SummaryStalled and crashed during takeoff
SiteIzmir Cumaovası Airport, Cumaovası, İzmir, Turkey
Aircraft
Aircraft typeFokker F28-1000 Fellowship
Aircraft nameVan
OperatorTurkish Airlines
RegistrationTC-JAO
Flight originİzmir Cumaovası Airport, Turkey
DestinationIstanbul Yeşilköy Airport, Turkey
Occupants73
Passengers68
Crew5
Fatalities67
Injuries6
Survivors6

Turkish Airlines Flight 301 was a passenger flight operated by a Fokker F28-1000 Fellowship of Turkish Airlines registered as TC-JAO that crashed during takeoff at İzmir Cumaovası Airport on 26 January 1974 while en route to Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport, killing 67 of its 73 passengers and crew.

The aircraft spent the night prior to the accident outside in freezing temperatures, causing frost accumulation on the wings, which was unnoticed by the crew before departure. During takeoff, the pilots over-rotated the plane, causing it to stall, which together with the frost caused the aircraft to climb to just 8–10 metres (26–33 ft) before pitching down and veering left, crashing into the ground and subsequently catching fire.

In 1990, it was claimed that the accident was caused by two of the pilots being drunk. Autopsy results confirmed alcohol was found in the blood of the captain and flight engineer, but that it was not the cause of the accident.