Tashauz – Darvaza – Ashgabat

On January 2, 1965 at 09:57 AM, Tashauz – Darvaza – Ashgabat experienced a crash involving Lisunov LI-2, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Darvaza Dasoguz Province (Dasoguz welaýaty).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

24 people were known to be on board, 24 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 22, passenger fatalities: 22, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after takeoff from Darvaza Airport in excellent weather conditions, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left to an angle of 30°, nosed down and crashed in flames in a desert area located 4 km from the runway end, about 600 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-64842, MSN 64 01, year of manufacture 1949.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.2526°, 58.4396°.