Dushanbe - Murghob

On a flight from Dushanbe to Murghob in support of a geological expedition, a fire erupted (probably started by an acetone spill) while the aircraft was flying through the gorge of the river Murghob. The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the rivers Murghob and Zapadny Pshart, some 60 km west of Murghob, but while flying a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed. Both pilots and all 4 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.

Flight / Schedule

Dushanbe - Murghob

Aircraft

Antonov AN-2

Registration

CCCP-79816

MSN

1160 473 04

Year of Manufacture

1961

Date

September 7, 1966 at 12:35 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Murghob Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province

Region

Asia • Tajikistan

Coordinates

38.1772°, 73.9691°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On September 7, 1966 at 12:35 PM, Dushanbe - Murghob experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-2, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Murghob Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province.

The flight was categorized as geographical / geophysical / scientific and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 6 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: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. On a flight from Dushanbe to Murghob in support of a geological expedition, a fire erupted (probably started by an acetone spill) while the aircraft was flying through the gorge of the river Murghob. The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the rivers Murghob and Zapadny Pshart, some 60 km west of Murghob, but while flying a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed. Both pilots and all 4 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-79816, MSN 1160 473 04, year of manufacture 1961.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.1772°, 73.9691°.

Fatalities

Total

6

Crew

2

Passengers

4

Other

0

Crash Summary

On a flight from Dushanbe to Murghob in support of a geological expedition, a fire erupted (probably started by an acetone spill) while the aircraft was flying through the gorge of the river Murghob. The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the rivers Murghob and Zapadny Pshart, some 60 km west of Murghob, but while flying a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed. Both pilots and all 4 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

4

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 6

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Dushanbe - Murghob

Flight Type

Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Asia • Tajikistan

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Antonov AN-2

Registration

CCCP-79816

MSN

1160 473 04

Year of Manufacture

1961

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