What happened
During a flight intended to evaluate the stability and controllability of the AN-70 prototype as part of a certification program, a mid-air collision occurred between two aircraft. The flight originated from Kiev-Gostomel Airport with a crew of seven on board the prototype. Simultaneously, an Antonov AN-72, registered UR-72966 and operated by the Antonov Design Bureau, departed the same airfield to participate in the same flight test sequence.
While the aircraft were cruising at an altitude of 3,200 metres, the crew of the AN-70 attempted to close the distance to the AN-72. This maneuver resulted in a miscalculation of the separation between the two planes, leading to a collision where the tail of the AN-70 struck the fuselage of the UR-72966.
The impact caused the AN-70 to lose its left stabilizer and a portion of its tail section. Following the structural failure, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled dive and crashed into a forested area in Veliky Lis, approximately 45 km northwest of the departure airport. The collision resulted in seven fatalities among the crew of the prototype.
Findings
The crew of the AN-72 managed to maintain control of their aircraft and successfully returned to Kiev-Gostomel Airport for a safe landing. While no injuries were reported among the crew of the AN-72, the aircraft sustained severe structural damage and was declared a total loss. The primary factor in the accident was the misjudgment of distance during the approach between the two aircraft.