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Fatal Mountain Strike During Go-Around at Batumi Airport (CCCP-87475)

Batumi, GeorgiaLanding (descent or approach)

On July 15, 1975, a Yakovlev Yak-40 (registration CCCP-87475) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Batumi, Georgia during landing or approach. 40 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: ATC failed to inform the crew about the real weather conditions at Batumi Airport and the crew initiated a go around procedure in marginal weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 3 km instead of the 5 km as mentioned by ATC. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft struck Mt. Mtirala during a go-around in poor weather, killing all 40 occupants. Official findings cited ATC weather reporting errors and crew actions in marginal conditions.

Incident Overview and Flight Path Details During a visual approach to Batumi Airport, the flight crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions and initiated a go-around procedure. The pilot-in-command executed an initial right turn, maintained flight for approximately 1.5 kilometers, and then turned left. While cruising at an altitude of 550 meters with a speed between 300 and 350 km/h, the aircraft was in a flaps and gear down configuration when it collided with the slope of Mt. Mtirala, which has an elevation of 595 meters. The impact occurred 15 kilometers from the airport, causing the aircraft to disintegrate and resulting in the deaths of all 40 occupants on board.

Probable cause

ATC failed to inform the crew about the real weather conditions at Batumi Airport and the crew initiated a go around procedure in marginal weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 3 km instead of the 5 km as mentioned by ATC. In such conditions, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

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