Fatal Test Flight Crash Near Khanty-Mansiysk After Nose Gear Incident (CCCP-87928)

Background and Incident Sequence The aircraft had previously experienced an incident at Chita Airport on April 18, when its nose gear collapsed on landing. After repairs, the crew—comprising three pilots and two engineers—conducted a local test flight departing from Khanty-Mansiysk Airport. ## Loss of Control and Crash During the test flight, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters when the ailerons were deployed to an angle of 8.5 degrees, causing the aircraft to turn to the right. Eight seconds later, the aircraft went out of control, overturned, and entered a dive. It descended at a rate of 100 meters per second and reached a speed of 620 km/h. Under a positive acceleration of 5.25 g, the left wing separated and struck the base of the tail, which was torn off. The aircraft continued its uncontrolled descent until it crashed in an open field near the Ob River, approximately 19 km northwest of Khanty-Mansiysk Airport. ## Outcome The aircraft was destroyed, and all five crew members were killed. The wreckage was located the following day.