On November 26, 1981, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration CCCP-01808) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Ust-Kulom, Russia during takeoff. 15 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collision was the consequence of: the crew of AN-2 CCCP-01808 failing to follow the departure route and altitude procedures; limited visibility due to low clouds; lack of ATC assistance in transmitting suitable information to both crews; and late… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A single-engine airplane collided with an inbound Aeroflot AN-2TP near Ust-Kulom Airport, killing all 15 occupants. The collision resulted from crew errors, limited visibility, and ATC failures.
Accident Overview
Shortly after takeoff from Ust-Kulom Airport, a single-engine aircraft en route to Syktyvkar collided with an inbound Aeroflot PZL-Mielec AN-2TP (registration CCCP-40564). The inbound aircraft, on a flight from Syktyvkar to Ust-Kulom, landed without further incident. The departing aircraft, an AN-2 registered CCCP-01808, entered a dive and crashed in a field approximately 12 kilometers from the airport. All 15 occupants on board were killed. At the time of the accident, visibility was reduced due to low clouds.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause determined that the collision was the consequence of: the crew of AN-2 CCCP-01808 failing to follow the departure route and altitude procedures; limited visibility due to low clouds; lack of ATC assistance in transmitting suitable information to both crews; and late detection of the climbing aircraft by the inbound crew.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…