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10 fatalities

Cargo Flight Crash at Magadan-Sokol Airport (CCCP-12967)

Magadan, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 2, 1973, an Antonov AN-12 (registration CCCP-12967) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Magadan, Russia during landing or approach. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain, was the consequence of several navigational errors on the part of the crew and a failure to follow published procedures, which caused the aircraft to be off course by 5.6 km on approach. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo aircraft crashed into a mountain while approaching Magadan-Sokol Airport at night in rain, killing all 10 people on board. The official investigation attributed the accident to navigational errors and failure to follow published procedures.

Incident Overview and Loss of Life The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Magadan when it crashed during a night approach to Magadan-Sokol Airport. The flight carried two passengers, eight crew members, and a cargo load of 12 tons of vegetables. All 10 occupants were killed when the aircraft struck the slope of a snow-covered mountain and disintegrated on impact. ## Approach and Impact The approach began under marginal weather conditions, with rain falling. While descending to an altitude of 570 meters, the captain decided to initiate a go-around. The aircraft struck the mountain slope 13.7 km short of the runway. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the accident, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain, was the consequence of several navigational errors by the crew and a failure to follow published procedures. These errors caused the aircraft to be off course by 5.6 km on approach. Poor visibility due to night and rain, as well as the lack of ATC assistance, were considered contributing factors.

Probable cause

The accident, which resulted in a controlled flight into terrain, was the consequence of several navigational errors on the part of the crew and a failure to follow published procedures, which caused the aircraft to be off course by 5.6 km on approach. Poor visibility due to night and rain, and the lack of ATC assistance, were considered contributing factors.
Controlled flight into terrain

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