Sukhumi - Leningrad

On May 23, 1991 at 01:06 PM, Sukhumi - Leningrad experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-154, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Leningrad-Pulkovo Leningrad 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.

181 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 168 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 7.2%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 174, passenger fatalities: 13, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Sukhumi, the crew initiate the approach to Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport in heavy rain falls. At a distance of 7 km on approach, at an altitude of 400 meters and at a speed of 287 km/h, flaps were deployed to an angle of 45°. Fifteen seconds laters, at a distance of 5,700 meters, the crew was cleared to land and continued the approach when the aircraft passed below the glide. With a rate of descent of 7 meters per second and at a speed of 250 km/h, the aircraft struck the ground 13 meters short of runway threshold in a 1° nose down attitude and with a positive acceleration of 4,5 g. The aircraft broke in three parts and came to rest 80 meters to the left of the runway. 13 passengers were killed, 38 other occupants were injured and 130 escaped uninjured.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-85097, MSN 75A097, year of manufacture 1975.