FlightFinder
Check my flight
2 fatalities

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41/SB 2) accident at Novoe Selo, Russia, 9 Jun 1940 (CCCP-L3523)

Novoe Selo, RussiaFlight

On June 9, 1940, a Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41/SB 2) (registration CCCP-L3523) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Novoe Selo, Russia in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The airplane departed Rostov Airport at 1500LT on a mail flight to Tbilisi with intermediate stops in Sochi, Sukhumi and Kutaisi. About 50 minutes into the flight, while cruising in stormy weather, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field at a speed of 600-700 km/h. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause (official findings): It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses