What happened
During a local training mission at Kiev-Zhuliany, an L1360 was operating at an altitude of approximately 250 to 300 meters. Simultaneously, an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-14G, registration CCCP-L2071, was arriving from a cargo flight (SU126) out of Sofia with five crew members on board. The two aircraft collided while flying toward one another.
Evidence from the wreckage indicated that the right engine propeller of the CCCP-L2071 struck the right wing of the L1360. This impact caused the L1360 to lose its right wing and plummet into the ground. On the CCCP-L2071, the propeller strike resulted in a piece of debris penetrating the cockpit, causing the immediate death of both pilots. The remaining crew members on the Ilyushin were also lost as the aircraft went out of control.
The wreckage of both planes fell 4.5 km from the airport, striking several residential buildings. The accident resulted in 9 fatalities among the flight crews and 6 fatalities on the ground. A total of 23 injuries were reported, with 12 individuals suffering serious wounds.
Findings
Investigators concluded that the collision was primarily driven by a lack of radar coverage and air traffic control guidance at the Kiev-Zhuliany Airport. The crew operating the CCCP-L2071 had not been notified by controllers regarding the presence of the training aircraft performing maneuvers at a similar altitude in the same area.