Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2) accident at Mt Nuratau, Uzbekistan, 8 Mar 1942 (CCCP-L1497)
On March 8, 1942, a Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2) (registration CCCP-L1497) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Nuratau, Uzbekistan in flight. 23 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the accident may have been the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in marginal weather conditions. 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 exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the accident may have been the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in marginal weather conditions. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course due to unfavorable winds and the visibility was poor due to clouds.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The airplane departed Urganch Airport at 1400LT on a flight to Tashkent, carrying 12 adult passengers, one child, five members of the Uzbek Civil Aviation and five crew members. Due to atmospheric interferences, it was difficult to establish communication with the crew. Nevertheless, a last message was recorded at 1626LT. It seems the airplane crashed half an hour later, at 1700LT. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was later found about 100 metres below the summit of Mt Nuratau (800 metres high) located about 60 km northwest of Jizzakh. The airplane was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the accident may have been the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in marginal weather conditions. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course due to unfavorable winds and the visibility was poor due to clouds.