Accident Overview
A Tupolev TU-134 aircraft, conducting an aerial photography mission with three passengers and a crew of five, was cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters parallel to a Tupolev TU-22M3. The crews of both aircraft mutually agreed to reduce their separation to approximately 10 to 15 meters. During this maneuver, the TU-22M3 struck the tail section of the TU-134.
Aftermath
The crew of the TU-22M3 managed to return to Moscow-Zhukovsky Airport for an emergency landing. In contrast, the TU-134 entered an uncontrolled descent and subsequently crashed in a wooded area near Samoylikha, approximately 140 kilometers southeast of Moscow. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and all eight individuals on board were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation attributed the accident to the failure of both crews to maintain a minimum safe separation between the aircraft while flying in formation, combined with poor judgment.