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6 fatalities

Midair Collision During Night Training Mission Kills Seven

Pskov AFB, RussiaFlight

On October 1, 1969, an Antonov AN-12 operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP was involved in an aviation accident near Pskov AFB, Russia in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Crew error. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

During a night training mission in poor weather, a crew's poor judgement led to a midair collision. The cockpit struck the preceding aircraft's tail, killing the captain instantly. The copilot abandoned the aircraft, and the crash killed the remaining six crew.

Incident

A crew conducting a local training mission at night in poor weather conditions misjudged the distance to the preceding aircraft. The cockpit base of their aircraft struck the top of the preceding aircraft's tail, causing the tail to penetrate the fuselage. The impact killed the captain instantly.

Aftermath

In panic, the copilot abandoned the aircraft using a parachute. The aircraft, now out of control, dove into the ground and crashed. The crash killed all six remaining crew members.

Investigation

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be crew error.

Midair collision

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Oct 1969 Antonov AN-12 accident near Pskov AFB, Russia?

During a night training mission in poor weather, a crew's poor judgement led to a midair collision. The cockpit struck the preceding aircraft's tail, killing the captain instantly. The copilot abandoned the aircraft, and the crash killed the remaining six crew.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Oct 1969 Antonov AN-12 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Oct 1969 involved an Antonov AN-12, operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP, at Pskov AFB, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Crew error.

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