5 fatalities

Crew Fatalities in Night Positioning Flight Crash After Propeller Malfunction (CCCP-61637)

Ust-Maya, RussiaTakeoff (climb)

On February 25, 1970, an Ilyushin II-14 (registration CCCP-61637) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Ust-Maya, Russia during takeoff. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The right propeller developed negative thrust during initial climb. 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

During a night positioning flight, a right propeller malfunction caused negative thrust shortly after takeoff. The aircraft crashed in a forest, killing all 5 crew members.

Accident

On a night positioning flight from Ust'-Maya to Yakutsk, the aircraft departed with its center of gravity outside the forward limit of the weight and balance envelope. Shortly after takeoff, a malfunction caused the right propeller to develop negative thrust. The resulting asymmetric forces occurred at an altitude too low for the crew to counteract. The aircraft crashed into a forest 1,350 meters behind the runway threshold and 310 meters to the right of the extended runway centerline. All five crew members on board were killed.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was that the right propeller developed negative thrust during the initial climb.