8 fatalities

Aircraft ditched in Karkinyts’ka Gulf after engine failure (CCCP-L4138)

Karkinyts’ka Gulf, UkraineFlight

On June 21, 1947, a Lisunov LI-2 (registration CCCP-L4138) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Karkinyts’ka Gulf, Ukraine in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was forced to ditch into the Karkinyts’ka Gulf following an in-flight engine failure, resulting in eight fatalities and twenty-one injuries among the occupants.

What happened

During flight, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue when one of its engines failed. This malfunction compelled the crew to execute an emergency ditching procedure, landing the airframe in the Karkinyts’ka Gulf approximately two kilometers from the coastline.

The watercraft remained afloat for roughly fifteen minutes after impact before submerging completely. Rescue operations were conducted by the crew of a nearby trawler, who managed to evacuate twenty-one injured individuals from the scene. Unfortunately, eight people did not survive the incident, including two members of the flight crew.

Findings

The official investigation attributed the accident directly to the engine failure that necessitated the emergency water landing.

Probable cause

Engine failure