Aeroflot Flight 1491

Aeroflot Flight 1491

An Aeroflot Antonov An-10 similar to the accident aircraft
Accident summary
Date 18 May 1972
Summary Structural failure
Site Near Kharkov, Ukraine
Passengers 114
Crew 8
Fatalities 122
Survivors 0
Aircraft type Antonov An-10A
Operator Aeroflot
Registration CCCP-11215
Flight origin Moscow-Vnukovo Airport , Moscow, SSSR
Destination Kharkov Airport, Kharkov, SSSR

Aeroflot Flight 1491 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight on 18 May 1972 that crashed while descending to land in Kharkov, SSSR. All 122 passengers and crew on board were killed.

Description

Flight 1491 took off from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport bound for Kharkov Airport. While descending from its cruising level to approximately 5,000 feet, the Antonov An-10 suffered structural failure resulting in the separation of both wings. The fuselage then plunged into a wooded area. There was no fire. Everyone on board Flight 1491 was killed in the crash.

Aftermath

Pravda reported on the crash of Flight 1491 shortly after it happened. It was unusual at the time in the Soviet Union for there to be press reports on domestic air crashes.[1]

The probable cause of the crash was determined to be the center wing section failing due to a fatigue crack in the lower central wing panel.[2]

Following this accident, Aeroflot ceased operating the An-10.[3]

See also

References

  1. Soviet air crash bared
  2. Aircraft accident Antonov 10A CCCP-11215 Kharkov Airport
  3. Gero, David (1996). Aviation Disasters Second Edition. Patrick Stephens Limited. p. 105.

External links