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31 fatalities

Mid-Air Collision Between AN-24 and Tupolev TU-16K Near Zavitinsk (CCCP-46653)

Zavitinsk, RussiaFlight

On August 24, 1981, an Antonov AN-24 (registration CCCP-46653) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Zavitinsk, Russia in flight. 31 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collision was the consequence of poor organization and management of flights in the area of Zavitinsk and non-compliance with published procedures, made possible by a lack of interaction, coordination, and communication between civilian and military air… 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An AN-24 and a Tupolev TU-16K collided near Zavitinsk, killing 37 people. One AN-24 passenger was found injured three days later. The accident was attributed to poor flight management and lack of coordination between civilian and military air controllers.

Flight Details and Collision Circumstances The aircraft was operating flight SU811 from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Blagoveshchensk, with an intermediate stop at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. It carried 27 passengers and five crew members. The aircraft departed Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport at 1456 local time for the second leg of the journey and was cleared to climb to 5,200 meters. At the same time, two Tupolev TU-16K aircraft of the Soviet Air Force departed Zavitinsk Air Base on a weather reconnaissance mission. The military aircraft, registered CCCP-07034 and CCCP-07514, each carried a crew of six. While cruising at 5,220 meters in good weather conditions, the AN-24 and the TU-16 registered CCCP-07514 collided. Both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an uninhabited area approximately 70 kilometers east of Zavitinsk. Both aircraft were totally destroyed. ## Casualties and Aftermath All six crew members of the TU-16 were killed, as were 31 occupants on board the AN-24. Three days after the accident, a 20-year-old man who had been seated in the AN-24 was found slightly injured in the taiga. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the collision resulted from poor organization and management of flights in the Zavitinsk area and non-compliance with published procedures. The accident was made possible by a lack of interaction, coordination, and communication between civilian and military air controllers.

Probable cause

The collision was the consequence of poor organization and management of flights in the area of Zavitinsk and non-compliance with published procedures, made possible by a lack of interaction, coordination, and communication between civilian and military air controllers.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Aug 1981 Antonov AN-24 accident near Zavitinsk, Russia?

An AN-24 and a Tupolev TU-16K collided near Zavitinsk, killing 37 people. One AN-24 passenger was found injured three days later. The accident was attributed to poor flight management and lack of coordination between civilian and military air controllers.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Aug 1981 Antonov AN-24 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 31 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Aug 1981 involved an Antonov AN-24, registration CCCP-46653, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Zavitinsk, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collision was the consequence of poor organization and management of flights in the area of Zavitinsk and non-compliance with published procedures, made possible by a lack of interaction, coordination, and communication between civilian and military air controllers.

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