Aeroflot Flight 630 (Russian: Рейс 630 Аэрофлота) was a Soviet domestic passenger flight from Dushanbe to Moscow via Leninabad (now Khujand in Tajikistan) that crashed on 24 February 1973, killing all 79 people on board, including five children.[1] The accident has been attributed to the loss of control.

Aeroflot Flight 630
An Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-18V, similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
Date24 February 1973
SummaryPilot error, loss of control
Site38 km northwest of Leninabad Airport
40°27′12″N 69°22′50″E / 40.45333°N 69.38056°E / 40.45333; 69.38056
Aircraft
Aircraft typeIlyushin Il-18V
OperatorAeroflot
RegistrationCCCP-75712
Flight originDushanbe
StopoverLeninabad Airport, Leninabad (Khujand)
DestinationDomodedovo Airport, Moscow
Occupants79
Passengers72
Crew7
Fatalities79
Survivors0

Aircraft

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The aircraft involved in the accident was an Ilyushin Il-18V turboprop airliner with serial number 189001803. The aircraft was equipped with Ivchenko AI-20K engines and made its maiden flight in 1959.[2] At the time of the accident, the aircraft sustained 20,404 flight hours and 9,590 pressurization cycles.[3]

Crash

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After climbing to an altitude of 6,600 m (21,700 ft), the aircraft after some time was supposed to turn 60 degrees right to Leninabad, but instead turned only 10 degrees right and then for three minutes followed a constant course at 6,600 m (21,700 ft) with an engaged autopilot.[1] Subsequently, the autopilot was disengaged and the aircraft began turning to the right.[1] After a 60-degree turn, the aircraft started banking to the left, with an angular velocity of 3–4 deg/s.[1] Having reached a 90-degree bank angle, the aircraft fell into a steep left spiral with an increased vertical speed of 100 m/s and increasing normal g forces.[1] At an altitude of about 2,200 m (7,200 ft), the aircraft disintegrated due to high dynamic loads.[1] The debris impacted an area 1,200 by 550 m (3,940 by 1,800 ft) and caught fire.[1]

Investigation

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Having found no mechanical or structural failures in the aircraft, the investigation did not reach any conclusions, although it noted that the ATC did not track the flight at the last stage.[1] The Ministry of Aviation Industry of the USSR found that the accident was caused by a navigation error and the crew trying an intense left banking and descend, which led to the loss of control.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Катастрофа Ил-18В Таджикского УГА близ Ленинабада" (in Russian). Airdisaster.ru. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Ильюшин Ил-18В Бортовой №: СССР-75712". russianplanes.net. Retrieved 2017-12-23.