Leningrad – Murmansk

On November 11, 1965 at 03:57 PM, Leningrad – Murmansk experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-124, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Murmansk Murmansk oblast.

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

62 people were known to be on board, 32 fatalities were recorded, 30 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 51.6%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 57, passenger fatalities: 30, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport, the crew started the approach to Murmansk Airport by night and poor weather conditions due to snow falls. After passing the middle marker, the aircraft was 400 meters left of the approach path when the visibility suddenly dropped due to a snow squall. The airplane was below the glide when the captain misinterpreted lights on the ground and decided to increased the rate of descent. The airplane struck the icy surface of the Kilp Yavr Lake located 1,5 km short of runway 31, lost its left wing and came to rest in shallow water about 1,562 meters short of runway. 32 occupants were evacuated while 32 others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-45086, MSN 5 35 18 01, year of manufacture 1965.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 68.9707°, 33.0750°.