10 fatalities

Aircraft Crashes After Takeoff from Terney Airfield (CCCP-05655)

Terney, RussiaTakeoff (climb)

On March 18, 1975, an Antonov AN-2 (registration CCCP-05655) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Terney, Russia during takeoff. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Crew failed to prepare the flight properly; total weight was 449 kg above MTOW and CofG was out of envelope too far aft, causing high angle of attack during initial climb leading to stall and crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

After takeoff from Terney Airfield, an aircraft climbing to 30 meters adopted an excessive angle of attack, banked left, stalled, and crashed in a potato field. The captain and five passengers were injured; ten others were killed.

Incident

Following departure from Terney Airfield, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 30 meters. At that point, it adopted an excessive angle of attack while maintaining a nose-up attitude. The aircraft then banked to the left, entered an aerodynamic stall, and crashed in flames into a potato field. The captain and five passengers were injured; the remaining ten occupants were killed.

Investigation

Investigators determined that the crew had not properly prepared for the flight. The aircraft's total weight exceeded its maximum takeoff weight by 449 kilograms. Furthermore, the center of gravity was found to be outside the prescribed envelope, positioned too far aft. These weight and balance conditions rendered the aircraft unstable for the initial climb phase.

Probable Cause

The probable cause of the accident was the crew's failure to prepare the flight properly, resulting in the aircraft being 449 kg over maximum takeoff weight and with an excessively aft center of gravity. This caused the airplane to enter a high angle of attack during the initial climb, leading to a stall and subsequent crash.