| 1976 Aeroflot Yak-40 crash | |
| Image Upright: | 1.16 |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Summary: | Pilot error leading to controlled flight into terrain |
| Site: | 1.5 km northwest of Ust-Kut Airport, Ust-Kut, Soviet Union |
| Aircraft Type: | Yakovlev Yak-40K |
| Operator: | Aeroflot |
| Tail Number: | CCCP-88208 |
| Origin: | Ust-Kut Airport, Ust-Kut, Soviet Union |
| Destination: | Kirensk Airport, Kirensk, Soviet Union |
| Occupants: | 7 |
| Passengers: | 4 |
| Crew: | 3 |
| Fatalities: | 7 |
| Survivors: | 0 |
The 1976 Aeroflot Yak-40 crash occurred on 17 December 1976 when a Yakovlev Yak-40 registered CCCP-88208 carrying out a cargo flight, crashed immediately after takeoff due to pilot error, killing all 3 aircrew and 2 female workers including 2 Aeroflot technicians onboard.[1] [2] [3]
The aircraft carrying out the flight was a Yakovlev Yak-40K, MSN 9631349 and was registered CCCP-88208. The aircraft was manufactured around the same year when the accident occurred and had logged 327 hours with 348 flights.
The aircraft on a cargo flight, loaded in total, 1200kg of cargo with assistance by the 2 female workers and 2 technicians. After loading the cargo, the flight immediately taxied out the ramp and towards the runway. The crew failed to finish the checklist before takeoff, putting the stabilizer at 6°. The aircraft took off, rotating too quickly with the speed being about 210-220 kmh (about 100kts). Due to an error, the aircraft’s altimeter not having enough pressure caused it to calculate the attitude wrong, causing the plane to be dangerously close to the ground, the aircraft crashed into the forest, killing all the occupants except First Officer Ermak who would succumb to his injuries a few hours later.
The investigation board kept the crash hidden from the public whilst investigating the cause of the crash, which was found out to be CFIT and was related to pilot error with many other causes.