Moscow – Kazan – Khabarovsk

On June 18, 1942 at 12:00 AM, Moscow – Kazan – Khabarovsk experienced a crash involving GVF PS-84, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Moscow-Khodynka Moscow oblast.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a city crash site.

21 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 61.9%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 1.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. While on ground in Moscow-Khodynka Airport, the right engine was subject to maintenance due to vibrations. The technical issue was apparently resolved so the crew decided to leave Moscow for Kazan. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 100 meters, the right engine suffered severe vibrations and the crew tried to fix the problem by changing the mixture of the carburetor. The right engine failed and the aircraft lost height and eventually stalled and crashed on a railway line located in the station of Moscow-Butyrskaya, about 3,5 km northeast of the Khodynka Airport. Three crew members, nine passengers (among them P. S. Makarova, Deputy of the Chairman of the Soviet Supreme) and one person on the ground were killed. A crew member and eight other passengers were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-L3423, MSN 6 5 05, year of manufacture 29.