Fatal Takeoff Accident at Ust-Maya Airstrip (CCCP-67264)

Incident Overview and Sequence of Events During the takeoff roll on the gravel runway at Ust-Maya Airstrip, the aircraft's left turbocompressor lost power and the engine stopped 1.8 seconds before reaching V2 speed. The crew increased the right engine's power to 96% and continued the takeoff procedure. The aircraft lifted off at 160 km/h and climbed to an altitude of 50 meters before entering a left turn. The aircraft gradually lost altitude and crashed into the Aldan River approximately 270 meters offshore. The wreckage sank and was recovered 31 hours later. All 14 occupants on board were killed. ## Official Investigation Findings The official investigation determined that the left engine failure was the result of crew errors, specifically the failure to follow the pre-takeoff engine checklist. The aircraft's speed at takeoff was insufficient, and the engine failure occurred at a critical stage of the takeoff procedure, leading to a loss of controllability after liftoff. During the climbout phase, the aircraft's speed decreased because the crew did not raise the landing gear, a decision attributed to high workload caused by the emergency situation.