Narrative:
Olympic flight 171 was carried out by Boeing 727 "Megas Alexandros". The aircraft was flown by two highly experienced captains. Weather at Thessaloniki was poor with a thunderstorm passing over the airport. Winds were reported as 360 deg/18 knots gusting to 28 kts; visibility 5km in heavy rain, scattered clouds at 2500 feet and overcast at 8000 feet. The flight crew carried out a non-precision VOR/DME approach to runway 34 (2410 m long). The crew were under pressure from the thunderstorm at the airfield and inadequate crew cooperation caused some approach procedures not to be applied. The aircraft touched down beyond the first third of the runway and could not be stopped on the remaining runway. The airplane was steered off the right side of the runway when an overrun into the sea seemed imminent. The undercarriage collapsed.
» ICAO Adrep
» Macedonian Press Agency
accident date: 12-08-1997
type: Boeing 727-230
registration: SX-CBI
| Status: | Accident Investigation report not yet completed, but information verified through authorities or other sources. |
| Date: | Tuesday 12 August 1997 |
| Time: | 17:41 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-230 |
| Operator: | Olympic Airways |
| Registration: | SX-CBI |
| MSN: | 20791/1022 |
| First flight: | 1974-03-08 (23 years 5 months) |
| Engines: | 3 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 26 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 35 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) ( Greece)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Athens-Ellinikon International Airport (ATH/LGAT), Greece |
| Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG/LGTS), Greece | |
| Flightnumber: | 171 |
Olympic flight 171 was carried out by Boeing 727 "Megas Alexandros". The aircraft was flown by two highly experienced captains. Weather at Thessaloniki was poor with a thunderstorm passing over the airport. Winds were reported as 360 deg/18 knots gusting to 28 kts; visibility 5km in heavy rain, scattered clouds at 2500 feet and overcast at 8000 feet. The flight crew carried out a non-precision VOR/DME approach to runway 34 (2410 m long). The crew were under pressure from the thunderstorm at the airfield and inadequate crew cooperation caused some approach procedures not to be applied. The aircraft touched down beyond the first third of the runway and could not be stopped on the remaining runway. The airplane was steered off the right side of the runway when an overrun into the sea seemed imminent. The undercarriage collapsed.
Classification:
Runway excursion
Sources:
» Flight International 20-26 August 1997 (18)» ICAO Adrep
» Macedonian Press Agency
Photos
accident date: 12-08-1997
type: Boeing 727-230
registration: SX-CBI
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 Athens-Ellinikon International Airport to Thessaloniki International Airport as the crow flies is 297 km (185 miles).
Distance from Athens-Ellinikon International Airport to Thessaloniki International Airport as the crow flies is 297 km (185 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.
languages: 
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