No fatalities

Unidentified aircraft crash on frozen lake (CCCP-19716)

Beloye Lake, RussiaFlight

On January 24, 1985, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration CCCP-19716) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Beloye Lake, Russia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft descended to an altitude insufficient to clear the frozen lake surface. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the icy surface of a lake following an uncontrolled descent, leaving the status of the crew uncertain.

What happened

During the flight, the aircraft began a descent that reached an unsafe altitude. While the specific reason for this loss of altitude remains undetermined, the plane impacted the frozen surface of a lake. The impact resulted in a crash of the aircraft type (unspecified model).

At the time of the accident, the crew was operating the flight when the descent occurred. Following the collision with the ice, the fate of the crew remains unknown, as no information has been released regarding survivors or fatalities.

Findings

Initial observations indicate that the primary factor in the accident was that the crew descended too low prior to striking the lake surface.

Probable cause

The aircraft descended to an altitude insufficient to clear the frozen lake surface.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Jan 1985 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Beloye Lake, Russia?

An aircraft crashed into the icy surface of a lake following an uncontrolled descent, leaving the status of the crew uncertain.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Jan 1985 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Jan 1985 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-19716, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Beloye Lake, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft descended to an altitude insufficient to clear the frozen lake surface.