Magadan – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur

On August 1, 1981 at 03:12 PM, Magadan – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur experienced a crash involving Ilyushin II-14, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Utichiy Island (Shantar Islands) Khabarovsk Krai.

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

11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane departed Magadan-Sokol Airport on a scientific flight to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, carrying seven crew members and four scientists who were in charge to proceed with temperature measurements of the water surface in the Okhotsk Sea. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the decision to return was taken too late. While cruising at an altitude of 140 meters in limited visibility, the crew initiated a right turn in a slight climb when the airplane struck the slope of a hill (152 meters high) located in the southwest part of the Utichiy Island (Shantar Islands), in the west part of the Okhotsk Sea. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-91517, MSN 1470 011 35, year of manufacture 1957.