14 fatalities

1968-08-03: Antonov AN-2 (CCCP-01118) — Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines — Psebai, Russia

Psebai, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 3, 1968, an Antonov AN-2 (registration CCCP-01118) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Psebai, Russia during landing or approach. 14 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident occurred in below-minima weather conditions and the decision to return was taken too late. Furthermore, weather information transmitted to the crew was too optimistic and failed to reflect the truth. 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 1781238573Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane on approach to Psebai struck trees and crashed on a wooded slope after encountering below-minima weather, killing all 14 occupants. The wreckage was found days later.

Overview

On an unspecified date, an airplane flying from Krasnodar to Psebai encountered adverse weather conditions while approaching its destination. The crew faced low visibility due to rain, which was below the required minima for landing. They decided to abort the approach and return to Krasnodar, but the decision was made too late.

Accident

At an altitude of 1,050 meters, the aircraft struck tree tops and subsequently impacted the wooded slope of the Skalisty khrebet mountain range. The ridge has an elevation of 1,314 meters. The crash site was located 7.5 kilometers northeast of Psebai. The wreckage was not discovered until August 31. All 14 people on board were killed.

Investigation and Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the accident occurred because the crew operated in weather conditions below the prescribed minima and delayed the decision to return. Additionally, the weather information relayed to the pilots was overly optimistic and did not accurately reflect the actual conditions.