Moscow - Odessa

On March 17, 1979 at 07:48 PM, Moscow - Odessa experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-104, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Moscow-Vnukovo Moscow 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.

120 people were known to be on board, 59 fatalities were recorded, 61 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 49.2%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 114, passenger fatalities: 58, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Five seconds after takeoff from runway 01 at Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while in initial climb, a fire alarm activated in the cockpit panel, informing the crew about a fire in the left engine. The crew declared an emergency, continued to climb and was cleared to return. Following several turns, the crew started an approach to runway 01 by night and marginal weather conditions. On final, the airplane descended below the MDA until it struck the ground at a speed of 350 km/h and crashed in flames in a snow covered field located along a wooded area, 1,548 meters short of runway 01. 58 passengers and a stewardess were killed while 61 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-42444, MSN 9 2 10 01, year of manufacture 1959.