6 fatalities

Ilyushin II-14 Calibration Flight Strikes Mount Uldepe, Killing All Six Crew (CCCP-61756)

Ashgabat, TurkmenistanFlight

On March 24, 1976, an Ilyushin II-14 (registration CCCP-61756) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and neglected published and approved procedures. A lack of discipline and a low visibility were considered as contributing factors. 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

An Ilyushin II-14 LIK calibration flight crashed into Mount Uldepe near Ashgabat after encountering poor weather. All six crew members were killed.

Accident Details

After departing from Ashgabat Airport, the crew of an Ilyushin II-14 performed several circuits and calibration missions in the vicinity of the airport. While cruising at an altitude of 990 metres approximately 50 kilometres from Ashgabat, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions. The airplane subsequently struck the slope of Mount Uldepe, which has an elevation of 1,631 metres. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in the death of all six crew members.

Aircraft Information

The aircraft involved was an Ilyushin II-14 version LIK (Lyotno-izmeritelnyy Kompleks), a special variant designed exclusively for calibration missions.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and neglected published and approved procedures. A lack of discipline and low visibility were considered as contributing factors.