8 fatalities

Aircraft Crashes Near Bagram Airbase, Eight Occupants Killed (05)

Jabal-os-Sarāj, AfghanistanLanding (descent or approach)

On January 22, 1985, an Antonov AN-26 (registration 05) operated by Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP was involved in an aviation accident near Jabal-os-Sarāj, Afghanistan during landing or approach. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It was determined that the pilot-in-command adopted an excessive rate of descent at an excessive speed, causing the aircraft to partially disintegrate in the air due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded the design and certification of the aircraft. 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 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft descending to Bagram Air Force Base went out of control and crashed near Jabal-os-Sarāj, about 20 km north. All eight occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Accident Overview

While descending to Bagram Air Force Base, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field near the village of Jabal-os-Sarāj, approximately 20 kilometers north of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident, and all eight occupants were killed. The incident occurred during the approach phase, but the aircraft lost control before reaching the runway.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the pilot-in-command adopted an excessive rate of descent at an excessive speed, causing the aircraft to partially disintegrate in the air due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded the design and certification limits of the aircraft. This loss of structural integrity led to the uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash. No other contributing factors were identified in the investigation.