Overview
On the day of the accident, a four-engine airplane carrying 14 passengers and a crew of six was completing a flight from Sestsha Airbase in Bryansk. While on approach to Tula Airport in poor weather conditions, it collided with a second Antonov AN-12BP operated by the Soviet Air Force. The second aircraft, carrying six crew members, was conducting a local training flight in Tula.
Collision and Crash
Following the mid-air collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located a few kilometers from the airport. All 27 occupants aboard both aircraft were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation reported that a radar failed, and air traffic control (ATC) was unable to determine the exact position of both aircraft. Poor visibility due to marginal weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.