Tupolev ANT-20 accident at Sirdarya, Uzbekistan, 14 Dec 1942 (CCCP-L760)
On December 14, 1942, a Tupolev ANT-20 (registration CCCP-L760) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Sirdarya, Uzbekistan in flight. 36 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The captain was not at his seat at the time of the accident. Investigations revealed that a passenger (pilot) was seating at the place of the captain and disconnected the automatic pilot before engaging the aircraft in a wrong attitude and configuration. 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.
Probable cause
The captain was not at his seat at the time of the accident. Investigations revealed that a passenger (pilot) was seating at the place of the captain and disconnected the automatic pilot before engaging the aircraft in a wrong attitude and configuration. This caused the aircraft to nose down and crash. It was determined that in the past, the captain regularly allowed non authorized people to take over controls of the airplane. Lack of discipline on part of the captain and lack of supervision on part of the Authority.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The six engine airplane departed Urganch on a flight to Tashkent with an intermediate stop in Chardzhou, Turkmenistan. On board were 26 passengers and a crew of 10. While cruising at an altitude of 500 metres in relative good weather conditions, the airplane pitched down then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed at an angle of 80° in a huge explosion near Sirdarya, some 86 km southwest of Tashkent Airport. The airplane was destroyed and all 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): The captain was not at his seat at the time of the accident. Investigations revealed that a passenger (pilot) was seating at the place of the captain and disconnected the automatic pilot before engaging the aircraft in a wrong attitude and configuration. This caused the aircraft to nose down and crash. It was determined that in the past, the captain regularly allowed non authorized people to take over controls of the airplane. Lack of discipline on part of the captain and lack of supervision on part of the Authority.