Sofia – Moscow
Flight / Schedule
Sofia – Moscow
Aircraft
Tupolev TU-104Registration
CCCP-42491
MSN
0 2 16 04
Year of Manufacture
26
Date
June 4, 1962 at 05:33 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Sofia-Vrazhdebna Sofia Province
Region
Europe • Bulgaria
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On June 4, 1962 at 05:33 AM, Sofia – Moscow experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-104, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Sofia-Vrazhdebna Sofia Province.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport, carrying a load of 12,108 kg of cherries and 1,408 kg of strawberries. Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, while climbing to a height of 400 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine. The pilot-in-command made a slight turn to the left to 5-6° and shut down the left engine 30 seconds later. The airplane continued heading 095° to the altitude of 800 meters then entered in clouds. The crew informed ATC he was dumping the fuel and returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km north of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-42491, MSN 0 2 16 04, year of manufacture 26.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
5
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport, carrying a load of 12,108 kg of cherries and 1,408 kg of strawberries. Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, while climbing to a height of 400 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine. The pilot-in-command made a slight turn to the left to 5-6° and shut down the left engine 30 seconds later. The airplane continued heading 095° to the altitude of 800 meters then entered in clouds. The crew informed ATC he was dumping the fuel and returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km north of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Sofia – Moscow
Flight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Bulgaria
Aircraft Details
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