4 fatalities

Cargo Flight Crashes on Go-Around Near Bajkit (CCCP-26569)

Baykit, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 25, 1979, an Antonov AN-26 (registration CCCP-26569) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Baykit, Russia during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The captain failed to follow the published procedures related to a go-around maneuver with a too low rate of climb and a wrong path. 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 flight carrying oranges struck trees and crashed on a wooded hill during a go-around at night, killing four and injuring eight. The captain failed to follow go-around procedures.

Accident Sequence

The aircraft was on a cargo flight from Krasnoyarsk to Bajkit with an intermediate stop in Yeniseysk. It carried six passengers, six crew members, and a load of 3,700 kg of oranges. During the final approach at night, the captain realized the altitude was insufficient and decided to initiate a go-around. He increased power on both engines, but the aircraft followed a wrong path with an insufficient rate of climb. At a speed of 232 km/h, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled, and crashed 310 meters further on the slope of a wooded hill 410 meters high. The crash site was located about 1,700 meters past the end of runway 06.

Casualties

A crew member and three passengers were killed in the accident. Eight other occupants sustained injuries.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the captain's failure to follow published procedures related to a go-around maneuver, resulting in a too-low rate of climb and a wrong path. Poor flight preparation was considered as a contributing factor, along with the fact that the captain was flying to Bajkit for the first time.