What happened
During a night flight intended to reposition an aircraft from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, an accident occurred near Moscow-Domodedovo Airport. The flight was being conducted on behalf of the 235th Separate Aviation Detachment for the Soviet Government.
Less than two minutes after departing from Domodedovo, while the aircraft was in its initial climb phase, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn following established procedures. During this maneuver, the crew lost control of the aircraft. The plane subsequently entered a dive and struck an open field approximately 3 km beyond the runway threshold. The impact triggered a massive explosion, causing the aircraft to disintegrate. Debris from the wreckage was distributed across an area measuring roughly 650 meters by 180 meters. There were eight fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Official investigations into the crash were unable to establish a definitive cause for the accident. Technical assessments confirmed that all four engines were operating correctly at the time of impact. Investigators noted the presence of vibrations on both wings, which may have been linked to issues involving the ailerons.