Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On a positioning flight from Priluki to Sergeevka (Priluki district of the Chernigov region) for crop-spraying operations, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (low clouds and fog) and suffered spatial disorientation. The single engine aircraft crashed in a snow-covered field located 1.5 km from Sergeevka Airstrip. Both pilots and both passengers (aircraft mechanics) were killed.

On the leg from Qal'ai Khumb to Tavildara of a flight from Qal'ai Khumb to Dushanbe, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (the summits were covered by clouds), deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 8 km and crashed into a snow-covered slope of the Darwaz Mountain range, some 9 km SSW of Sagirdasht (Gorny Badakhshan). Two of the 3 pilots (including a check pilot) and 9 of the 10 passengers were killed and both survivors were seriously injured. The wreckage was found 31MAR69 and both survivors were evacuated three days later, on 02APR69.

Shortly after takeoff from Alma-Ata Airport, while climbing to a height of 80 meters, the airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in flames onto houses located in the village of Krasnoye Polye, near the airport. Few houses were destroyed as well as the aircraft. A crew member and three passengers were killed while 27 other occupants were injured. Fortunately, there were no casualties on the ground.

On a crop-spraying flight from Rubashovka (Anna district of the Voronezh region) for the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Krasnoye Znamya' with an unauthorized passenger on board, the intoxicated pilot illegally performed aerobatics manoeuvres. While recovering from a loop at low altitude, the aircraft crashed into the ground 140 metres from Rubashovka airstrip and burst into flames. The pilot and the sole passenger (an aircraft mechanic) were killed.

On the leg from Khalaktyrka to Kozyrevsk of a flight from Khalaktyrka to Esso when the crew decided to take the route over the mountains instead of the route along the valleys although the weather conditions did not allow such deviation. The aircraft entered clouds and crashed under control at a height of 1,230 metres on the slope of a mountain (1,280 metres) located in the Ganalskiye gory range, some 16 km east of Malka (Yelizovo district of Kamchatka). The airplane then slid down on the slope for 700 metres before coming to rest in the valley of the Zubastaya River. Both pilots were killed while all 11 passengers were injured (8 of them seriously). The wreckage and the survivors were found a day later, on 11JAN69.

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Antarctica in December 1968 (exact date unknown). The aircraft was damaged and later destroyed by a storm.

The aircraft departed Ust-Kut Airport on a cargo flight to Mirny, carrying a load of 18 tons of cement. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew was informed that a landing at Mirny Airport was impossible due to technical problems and the captain decided, without referring to his operations, to divert to Lensk Airport where the weather conditions were considered as poor. At that time, the sky was overcast with clouds down to 600 meters, an horizontal visibility of 2,500 meters with rain and snow. The flight was continued at an altitude of 8,000 meters then the crew was cleared to descent to 3,000 meters and to start the approach to Lensk. On final, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tall trees (20 meters high) in a flat attitude, continued the descent and crashed 420 meters further in a wooded area. The wreckage was found 15,6 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

On the leg from Novosibirsk to Yakutsk, the hydraulic pressure on engine number 2 dropped. The captain decided to divert to Krasnoyarsk Airport for an emergency landing. The approach was completed in snow falls and during the last segment, the four engine airplane was too low and struck the ground 200 meters short of runway threshold then crashed and burned. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Few minutes after takeoff from Mary Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 meters, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for a safe landing. While descending to Mary, the crew realize he could not reach the airport so he attempted a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

On a flight from Zyryanka to Seymchan in support of the 121st geodetic expedition, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions due to low clouds. The crew failed to return and deviated from the prescribed flight path by 25 km and descended in clouds over mountainous terrain. In such conditions, the aircraft crashed at a height of some 1,200 metres into the steep slope of Mount Khapchagai (1,554 metres high) located 61 km northwest of Seymchan. One of the 2 pilots and 4 of the 6 passengers were killed and all survivors were seriously injured. The wreckage and the survivors were found a day later, on 23SEP68.