Were there any fatalities in the 27 Aug 1984 Antonov AN-12 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 6 fatalities.

Emergency Landing After Multiple Engine Failures Ends in Fire

Q: What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Aug 1984 involved an Antonov AN-12, operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP, at Chita, Russia.

On August 27, 1984, an Antonov AN-12 operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP was involved in an aviation accident near Chita, Russia in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It was determined that all three engines n°1, 2 and 4 failed because the fuel was contaminated by water. Nevertheless, the crew failed to follow emergency procedures. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data API Editorial standards

While in formation, an aircraft lost three engines due to water-contaminated fuel. The crew attempted a diversion but executed an emergency landing in a field; the aircraft was destroyed by fire, killing all six crew members.

Incident

One hour and 16 minutes after takeoff, while flying in formation with other similar aircraft, the captain informed the formation leader that engines number 1, 2, and 4 had failed. The aircraft left the formation and began a descent in an attempt to divert to Chita-Kadala Airport.