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9 fatalities

Night Survey Flight Crash at Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport (CCCP-61752)

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On December 18, 1976, an Ilyushin II-14 (registration CCCP-61752) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia during landing or approach. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A succession of errors on part of the crew led the aircraft following a wrong track on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The lack of visibility and poor weather conditions 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

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into Mt Ostraya during a night approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport in poor visibility. Two passengers survived; nine occupants were killed.

Incident Overview and Location Details During a night survey flight from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, a twin-engine aircraft encountered limited visibility and marginal weather conditions while approaching Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. At an altitude of 850 metres, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Ostraya, which has a height of 910 metres and is located 12.5 km from the airport. The wreckage was discovered three days after the accident. Two passengers, identified as hydrologists, were found alive, while nine other occupants were killed. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that a succession of errors by the crew led the aircraft to follow a wrong track on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The lack of visibility and poor weather conditions were considered contributing factors to the accident.

Probable cause

A succession of errors on part of the crew led the aircraft following a wrong track on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The lack of visibility and poor weather conditions were considered as contributing factors.

Related events

Same operator

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