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6 fatalities

Nighttime Crash into the Sea Near Sukhumi Airport (CCCP-L1718)

Sukhumi-Babushara, GeorgiaTakeoff (climb)

On April 22, 1956, an Ilyushin II-14 (registration CCCP-L1718) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Sukhumi-Babushara, Georgia during takeoff. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, the assumption the pilot could be blinded by a beam was not ruled out. 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 aircraft crashed into the sea about 3 km off Sukhumi Airport shortly after takeoff, killing all six occupants. The exact cause was not established, though pilot blinding by a beam was not ruled out.

Accident Overview and Immediate Sequence of Events The accident occurred at night, less than one minute after takeoff from Sukhumi Airport. While climbing to a height of 60 meters, the aircraft adopted a pitch-down attitude and eventually crashed into the sea about 3 km off shore. The airplane sank to a depth of 15 meters, and all six occupants were killed. The aircraft was carrying a load of 2,117 kilos of mail. ## Official Findings and Probable Cause The official investigation stated that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, the assumption that the pilot could be blinded by a beam was not ruled out.

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