14 fatalities

Crew's Decision to Continue in Adverse Weather Leads to Controlled Flight into Terrain (CCCP-32209)

Sufi-Kurgan, KyrgyzstanFlight

On July 21, 1968, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration CCCP-32209) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Sufi-Kurgan, Kyrgyzstan in flight. 14 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew decided to continue in adverse weather conditions and failed to return. Controlled flight into terrain. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

During a flight from Dzhargital to Osh, the crew encountered below-minima weather, lost orientation, and deviated west. The aircraft crashed into a mountain, killing all 14 occupants.

Accident Overview

On a flight from Dzhargital to Osh, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions, including thunderstorms and rain, during the leg from Daraut-Kurgan to Osh. The pilot failed to return, lost orientation, and deviated from the prescribed flight path by 10 kilometers to the west.

Crash Details

The single-engine aircraft crashed at an altitude of 4,000 meters into the steep slope of a mountain with a height of 4,170 meters, located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Sufi-Kurgan. The wreckage was discovered two days later. All 14 occupants on board were killed.

Investigation Findings

According to the official investigation, the probable cause was the crew's decision to continue in adverse weather conditions and failure to return, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.