Loss Of Spatial Awareness Believed To Be To Blame

A preliminary investigation into the November 30 loss of an Atlasjet MD-83 near Isparta, Turkey indicates pilot error led to the loss of the aircraft and all 57 persons onboard, Turkish media reported Tuesday.

CNNTurk television and the newspaper Zaman report authorities believe the pilot became disoriented while on approach to land at Isparta, despite good weather at the time of the accident.

"The primary data suggests the pilot lost spatial consciousness," Zaman quoted an unidentified Turkish aviation official as saying, reports The Associated Press.

As ANN reported, the accident aircraft departed late from Istanbul, and was reported to have disappeared from radar surveillance at 0136 local time while attempting a landing at Isparta's Suleyman Demirel Airport. Search-and-rescue crews found the wreckage of the aircraft on a mountaintop about four hours later, seven miles from the airport at an altitude of about 5,000 feet.

Officials say there is no indication of sabotage in the accident. The office of Ali Ariduru, head of Turkey's Civil Aviation Authority, said he was not immediately available to comment on the reports.

Atlasjet officials also declined to comment on the reports.

FMI: www.atlasjet.com/en/default.asp