Emergency belly landing at Shevshenko Airport due to fuel exhaustion

No fatalities • Aktau, Kazakhstan • Landing (descent or approach)

A positioning flight ended in an emergency landing near Shevshenko Airport after the aircraft ran out of fuel during its descent.

What happened

During a positioning flight approaching Shevshenko Airport, the crew encountered a critical shortage of fuel. As the aircraft was descending toward its destination, it became clear that the remaining fuel was insufficient to complete the approach. This forced the crew to execute an emergency landing in an open field situated a short distance from the airport.

The impact resulted in a belly landing, causing the aircraft to sustain damage that rendered it a total loss. Despite the severity of the landing, all three crew members were able to evacuate the wreckage. The occupants sustained only minor injuries during the incident.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified two primary contributing factors. First, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion because the crew miscalculated the amount of fuel on board prior to takeoff. Additionally, the flight was conducted under challenging meteorological conditions involving heavy snow and high winds, which led to the pilot losing situational awareness while cruising.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a failure to properly calculate fuel requirements before departure, compounded by loss of orientation during inclement weather.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1982-01-16 Yakovlev Yak-40 accident near Aktau, Kazakhstan?

A positioning flight ended in an emergency landing near Shevshenko Airport after the aircraft ran out of fuel during its descent.

Were there any fatalities in the 1982-01-16 Yakovlev Yak-40 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1982-01-16 involved a Yakovlev Yak-40, registration CCCP-87902, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Aktau, Kazakhstan.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by a failure to properly calculate fuel requirements before departure, compounded by loss of orientation during inclement weather.

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