No fatalities

Aircraft Veers Off Runway at Bratsk After Landing in Heavy Rain (CCCP-85029)

Bratsk, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 13, 1981, a Tupolev TU-154 (registration CCCP-85029) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Bratsk, Russia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the accident was the uncontrollability of the aircraft on a wet runway due to the complete loss of rudder efficiency at the maximum reverse engine thrust due to the design characteristics of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A passenger aircraft on a scheduled flight from Moscow to Bratsk via Omsk veered left during landing rollout in heavy rain, exited the runway, and broke in two. All occupants were uninjured.

Incident Overview

On approach to Bratsk Airport, the flight crew of a scheduled passenger service from Moscow-Vnukovo to Bratsk, with an intermediate stop in Omsk, encountered limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. The aircraft touched down on the runway.

Sequence of Events

One second after touchdown, reverse thrust was activated on all three engines. The aircraft rolled for approximately 800 meters before it began to veer to the left. The pilot-in-command attempted to counteract the deviation, but the aircraft continued rolling for another 526 meters, at which point it veered off the runway. It rolled a few dozen meters on soft ground before coming to rest. The aircraft was broken in two.

Occupant Status

All occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be the uncontrollability of the aircraft on a wet runway due to the complete loss of rudder efficiency at the maximum reverse engine thrust, attributed to the design characteristics of the aircraft.