What happened
During a routine local training operation conducted at Pskov AFB, two AN-12 aircraft were involved in a fatal mid-air collision. The first aircraft was on its final approach to the airfield when the flight crew encountered degraded visibility and adverse weather conditions. In response to these environmental factors, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver.
During this period of maneuvering, the aircraft struck a second AN-12 belonging to the Soviet Air Force that was also approaching the same airport. The impact caused both planes to descend rapidly into the ground. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities, representing the entire crew complement from both involved aircraft.
Findings
While the precise sequence of events leading to the impact is not fully established, the collision occurred amidst poor visibility and difficult weather conditions. There remains uncertainty regarding the specific roles played by air traffic control during the approach phase, as well as the exact responsibility for the loss of separation between the two aircraft.