Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The airport of Mineralnye Vody was closed since three days due to poor weather in all the Caucasus region. Thus, many flights were cancelled and more than 500 passengers were blocked at Tbilisi Airport. In the afternoon of December 31, the airport of Mineralnye Vody was reopened to trafic and two IL-18 aircraft were chartered for the stranded passengers. The boarding process was disorganized and chaotic. Tickets were not checked and too many passengers boarded the plane. There were 84 passenger seats, so 26 passengers stood or sat on their luggage in the aisles as well as in the galley. The maximum rear centre of gravity was exceeded by 1%. Nevertheless, the flight to Mineralnye Vody was uneventful but on approach, weather conditions were still marginal with a visibility limited to 2 km, a cloud base at 120 meters, light rain and mist. On final approach to runway 12, at an altitude of 250 m and heading 117°, as the pilot-in-command was unable to locate the runway nor the approach lights, he decided to make a go around and increased power on all four engines. The crew turn right heading 188° but failed to gain height. Shortly later, the airplane struck obstacles and crashed in flames 3 km southwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and 32 occupants were killed, among them two crew members. All 87 other occupants were evacuated.

While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 meters in good weather conditions, the four engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and reached an angle of 107° and a speed of 630 km/h before crashing in a snow covered field located 10 km east of Chebotovka, in the Rostov region. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 59 occupants were killed.

On final approach to Vladivostok Airport in limited visibility, the airplane struck the antenna of a radio station. Upon impact, an engine failed and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located few km short of runway. There were no injuries among the occupants while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the approach was continued below the glide.

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Sangar, carrying a load of 3,100 kilos of apples. Descending to Sangar Airport by night, while at an altitude of 600 meters, the pilot informed ground he located the airport. Twice, the airplane overflew the airfield without landing and the crew was apparently unable to determine his position with certainty. While flying at low height, the right wing struck trees and was sheared off. Out of control, the airplane crashed on the southwest slope of Mt Vataala Hayata located near the village of Smorodinny, about 8 km southeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five crew members were killed.

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Zyrianka with an intermediate stop at Oymyakon, carrying two passengers, a crew of four and a load of 2,253 kilos of potatoes. While cruising at an altitude of 1,600 meters in clouds, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located 95 km west of Oymyakon. The wreckage was found two days later in an isolated area. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.

Landed hard at Yuzhny Airport in Tashkent and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

The approach to Riga Airport was completed in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions. The aircraft landed long and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a field located 200 meters from the Daugava River. All six crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was performing a local test flight at Lukhovitsy-Tretyakovo Airport. While completing a third turn on approach, the crew activated the feathering system on the engine number two. Shortly later, while an altitude of 80-100 meters, the airplane banked left, lost height and speed, stalled and struck the ground. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for dozen yards before coming to rest with its left wing broken. All six crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While descending to Odessa, the crew was informed by ATC that a storm was approaching the airport from the southwest. The crew continued the approach and after passing the outer marker, encountered heavy rain falls and turbulences. On short final, the airplane lost height and passed below the glide, struck approach lights and the roof of a building. On impact, an undercarriage was sheared off and remained on the building's roof. Out of control, the airplane plunged into the earth and crashed in flames in a field located short of runway 16 threshold. Two passengers and all nine crew members were injured while 83 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Three hours after the crash, the navigator died from his injuries.

On the leg from Kazan to Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 1,200 meters, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 120 km west of Sverdlovsk. The wreckage was found the following morning at 0800LT. All five crew members and four passengers were killed while 17 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.