30 fatalities

1965-03-08: Tupolev TU-124 (CCCP-45028) — Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines — Kuybyshev, Russia

Kuybyshev, RussiaTakeoff (climb)

On March 8, 1965, a Tupolev TU-124 (registration CCCP-45028) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Kuybyshev, Russia during takeoff. 30 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, it is believed the loss of control was caused by the dysfunction of the attitude indicator that was probably not fully operational as the accident occurred less than two… 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 1781242321Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane stalled and crashed in a snow-covered field 2,300 meters past the runway end after takeoff from Kuybyshev Airport. All nine crew and 16 passengers were killed; 14 others were seriously injured, with five later dying from injuries.

Accident Overview

Less than one minute after departing Kuybyshev Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 40–50 meters, the airplane experienced a stall. It then banked to the left and crashed into a snow-covered field located 2,300 meters beyond the runway end. At the time of the accident, the pilot-in-command was under training, with an instructor occupying the right seat.

Casualties and Injuries

All nine crew members and 16 passengers on board were killed in the crash. Additionally, 14 individuals sustained serious injuries. Several hours after the accident, five of the survivors succumbed to their injuries and died.

Investigation and Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, investigators believe the loss of control resulted from a malfunction of the attitude indicator. It was likely that the instrument was not fully operational because the accident occurred less than two minutes after the engines had been started. There was an assumption that water had entered the attitude direction indicator (ADI), causing it to fail.