Accident
Two II-76 aircraft departed Dzhankoy Air Force Base for a combined night exercise. The second aircraft was registered CCCP-76679. Each aircraft carried a crew of eight, resulting in a total of 16 occupants. During the exercise, a mid-air collision occurred due to a pilot error. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the waters of Lake Sivash, a large body of water in Crimea. All 16 occupants were killed. The accident resulted in the complete loss of both aircraft. Both aircraft were four-engine turbofan transport planes. The collision took place at night.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was an in-flight collision caused by a pilot error.