3 fatalities

Crew Descended Below Minima Despite Adverse Weather, Crash in Kazakhstan (CCCP-13651)

Kenkiyak, KazakhstanLanding (descent or approach)

On January 25, 1964, an Antonov AN-2 (registration CCCP-13651) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Kenkiyak, Kazakhstan during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew decided to continue the descent to Kenkiyak in below-minima weather conditions instead of returning to Baiganin. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 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

On a flight from Baiganin to Aktyubinsk, the crew encountered below-minima weather and descended instead of returning, causing the aircraft to crash into a hill southwest of Kenkiyak. The copilot and two passengers were killed; the captain and others were injured.

Incident Overview

During a flight from Baiganin to Aktyubinsk, with a leg from Baiganin to Kenkiyak, the crew encountered weather conditions below minima, characterized by low clouds and fog. Instead of returning to Baiganin, the crew continued the descent toward Kenkiyak. The aircraft subsequently crashed at an elevation of 273 meters into a hill that rises to 288 meters, located 18 kilometers southwest of Kenkiyak. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.

Casualties and Injuries

The copilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The captain was seriously injured, while all other passengers suffered slight injuries.

Official Findings

Investigators determined that the crew decided to persist with the descent to Kenkiyak in below-minima weather conditions rather than aborting the approach and returning to Baiganin. Additionally, the weather information relayed to the crew was found to be inaccurate, portraying the conditions as more favorable than they actually were. This misleading information was considered a contributing factor to the accident.

Probable cause

The crew decided to continue the descent to Kenkiyak in below-minima weather conditions instead of returning to Baiganin. Informations related to weather conditions and transmitted to the crew did not reflect the truth and were considered as too optimistic, which was considered as a contributing factor.