Tupolev TU-104

Soviet Navy - Voyenno-morskoy flot CCCP

Eight seconds after liftoff from runway 21 at Pushkin AFB, while climbing to a height of about 50 meters in light snow, the airplane banked right, overturned then crashed in a huge explosion near the airport. All 50 occupants were killed. The aircraft was carrying many of the Pacific Fleet's senior officers from Leningrad, where they had been attending meetings with the naval command, to Vladivostok, via Khabarovsk. Among the dead were 16 admirals and generals, including the commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Emil Spiridonov and his wife.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

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.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Almaty Airport runway 23, while at an altitude of 400 metres, the left engine caught fire. An explosion occurred and the airplane descended at a speed of 150-190 km/h and crashed in flames in a snow covered field located 3,280 metres short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 90 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew departed Kiev-Borispol Airport for a local training mission. On final approach, while properly aligned, the airplane stalled and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. All four occupants were evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1976.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Following a normal takeoff roll on runway 24R, the airplane lifted off at a speed of 290 km/h with the copilot at controls. At this time, the visibility was poor due to the night and marginal weather conditions. Less than a minute later, while climbing, the airplane rolled to the right to an angle of 60-70° then the airspeed increased to 580 km/h. The captain took over control when the airplane initiated an uncontrolled descent and crashed at a speed of 620 km/h in a huge explosion near the village of Klushino, about 10 km northwest of the airport, three minutes after takeoff. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 73 occupants have been killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After a long roll at Chita-Kadala Airport, the aircraft took off very late at a speed of 275 km/h. During initial climb, it struck the embankment of a railway road located 322 metres past the runway end. It crash landed in a field, slid for dozen metres then turn to the left and came to rest. Four passengers and a flight attendant were injured while 112 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was written off.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

At liftoff, the right wing dropped and the airplane rolled to the right to an angle of 70°, causing the right wing to struck the snow covered ground 129 metres to the right of the runway. Out of control, the airplane crossed a taxiway, passed behind an air Koryo TU-154 that just landed (some debris struck the TU-154) and came to rest in flames, broken in three, 232 metres further. The wreckage was found 180 metres southeast of the runway end. 78 people, among them a stewardess, were injured, 12 people were unhurt. 24 occupants were killed, 15 passengers and nine crew members.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Upon landing at Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After landing at Chita-Kadala Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. It rolled for about 430 meters before colliding with a railway embankment. There were no injuries while the aircraft was written off.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The descent to Domodedovo Airport was initiated by night and marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. On final, the airplane was unstable and not properly aligned on the glide so the captain decided to make a turn to the left when the airplane banked left to 35-40°, causing the left wing to struck the ground 135 meters short of runway threshold and 25 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames and came to rest 340 meters past the threshold and 220 meters to the left of the runway. Five crew members and seven passengers were killed while 63 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Within 10 days after the accident, four other passengers died from their injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Following an uneventful flight from Kutaisi, the crew started the descent to Moscow-Domodedovo by night and good weather conditions. On approach at an altitude of 1,300 feet, the airplane banked left to an angle of 75° then nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion in a potatoes field located 16,3 km from the runway threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 122 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After takeoff by night from Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, the crew was cleared to climb to 1,500 meters and initiated a left turn as instructed by ATC. The airplane first banked left to an angle of 35-40° and at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the left angle increased to 75-80° when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located 10 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of the 108 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as marginal with a visibility limited to 6 km, overcast 800 feet, wind from northwest at 15 knots and light rain.

CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie

After touchdown on runway 14 at Nicosia Airport, the airplane deviated to the right then veered off runway and came to rest in flames about 150 metes from the runway end. All 70 occupants escaped, nine of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While in cruising altitude on the leg from Irkutsk to Chita, a hijacker went into the cockpit and ordered the crew to fly to China. Negotiations between the crew and the hijacker were unfruitful and after few minutes, a member of the militia shot the hijacker. Before dying, the hijacker was able to fire a system connected to several grenades attached to his belt. A huge detonation occurred in the cabin, causing the aircraft to disintegrate in the air. From an altitude of 6,500 meters, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in the taiga about 97 km west of Chita. Debris were found on a wide area and none of the 81 occupants survived the crash. Soviet Authorities later reported that the hijacker was a mental imbalance and explained his gesture by their recent refusal to grant him a job position within the diplomatic corps.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After takeoff from Leningrad-Shosseinaya Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 7,800 meters, a stewardess informed the cockpit crew about a passenger who wanted to fly to Stockholm and was carrying a pistol and a hand grenade. After entering the cockpit, the hijacker stand by the flight engineer. The crew returned to Leningrad-Shosseinaya and on final approach, while at a height of 120-140 meters, the captain asked the copilot to lower the gear. When the hijacker realized they were flying back to Leningrad, he unpin the grenade that exploded in the cockpit, causing a huge hole in the fuselage. The hijacker and the flight engineer were killed while both pilots were slightly injured. 30 seconds later, the pilots were able to land the airplane at a speed of 310 km/h. After touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to a halt. All 55 other occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was not repaired.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While descending to Omsk Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to snow showers. On final, as he was unable to locate the runway, the captain abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around. Three other attempts to land were abandoned within the next minutes. During the fifth approach, the crew descended too low when the airplane struck a snow wall located just short of runway threshold and crash landed. There were no casualties.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Shortly after takeoff from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height, banked right 90° then struck power cables and crashed in a field located 10 km south of the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 25 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Flight SU1912 departed Odessa Airport in Ukraine on July 24 to Vladivostok with intermediate stops in Kiev, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Khabarovsk. While descending to Irkutsk-Intl Airport in the morning, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. As the visibility was limited, the crew was unable to locate the runway and obtained an ATC assistance on final. Unfortunately, the aircraft was unstable and the crew was instructed by ATC to turn to the right to reach the glide as the aircraft was descending to the left. At an excessive vertical speed and an approach speed 32 km/h below the prescribed approach speed, the aircraft banked left and right. The right main gear struck the runway surface 154 meters past the runway threshold and the left main gear touched the ground 183 meters from the threshold. The ground impact was in excess of the g-load certification. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, deviated from the centerline to the left, lost its left wing and came to rest in flames after a course of 500 meters to the left of the main runway. 97 occupants, among them four crew members, were killed, while 29 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

CSA Czech Airlines - Ceskoslovenské Státní Aerolinie

On final approach to runway 18, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and poor visibility due to fog. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the captain decided to make a go-around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land on runway 18 was also abandoned for the same reason. In such conditions, the crew decided to change the circuit and initiated an approach from the south to runway 36. At a speed of 350 km/h, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames about 5,5 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the airplane crash landed 600 meters short of runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to go around. A second attempt to land was made few minutes later. As the visibility seems to improve a bit, the captain decided to land. After touchdown on a waterlogged runway, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Irkustk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a visibility below minima. The airplane lost height and struck approach lights located 2,450 meters short of runway 29 threshold. It then struck a hill, flew on a distance of 570 meters and eventually crashed in flames 1,880 meters short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and two passengers were rescued while 33 other occupants were killed, among them the spouse of the Ambassador of Albania in China.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed 1,5 km short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was involved in a post-maintenance test flight and was carrying six technicians and five crew members. Following a normal takeoff roll of 1,550 - 1,600 meters on runway 25, the pilot completed the rotation and a normal initial climb. Following a distance of 800 meters and once the aircraft reached the altitude of 175 meters, it banked left to an angle of 90°, went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After departure from Khabarovsk-Novy Airport, the crew was cleared to climb to the altitude of 4,000 meters. Once this altitude was reached, ATC cleared the crew to continue to climb to 8,000 meters. While climbing to the altitude of 4,500 meters, the copilot was able to send a brief distress call, reporting severe vibrations and that control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a 50-60° nose-down attitude in a huge explosion some 15 km southwest of the village of Kurun, some 96 km northeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 86 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 meters, the copilot was able to send a short distress call and control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and the descent took about two minutes and thirty seconds before the airplane disintegrated in a wooded area located in Voznesenka, about 28 km east of the Krasnoyarsk Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 84 occupants were killed. It was later reported that all bodies shows traces of high temperature and burns.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport, carrying a load of 12,108 kg of cherries and 1,408 kg of strawberries. Shortly after takeoff from runway 09, while climbing to a height of 400 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine. The pilot-in-command made a slight turn to the left to 5-6° and shut down the left engine 30 seconds later. The airplane continued heading 095° to the altitude of 800 meters then entered in clouds. The crew informed ATC he was dumping the fuel and returning to the airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 27 km north of the airport and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Vladivostok Airport in limited visibility, the airplane struck the antenna of a radio station. Upon impact, an engine failed and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located few km short of runway. There were no injuries among the occupants while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the approach was continued below the glide.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Landed hard at Yuzhny Airport in Tashkent and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While descending to Odessa, the crew was informed by ATC that a storm was approaching the airport from the southwest. The crew continued the approach and after passing the outer marker, encountered heavy rain falls and turbulences. On short final, the airplane lost height and passed below the glide, struck approach lights and the roof of a building. On impact, an undercarriage was sheared off and remained on the building's roof. Out of control, the airplane plunged into the earth and crashed in flames in a field located short of runway 16 threshold. Two passengers and all nine crew members were injured while 83 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Three hours after the crash, the navigator died from his injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After takeoff from runway 27 at Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, while climbing to a height of 130-150 meters, the right engine failed. This caused severe vibrations and the crew was unable to read the instruments properly. Trying to manipulate the throttle, the flight engineer inadvertently shut down the left engine. Due to a loss of power and insufficient thrust, the airplane lost height and the captain elected to make an emergency landing in a frozen pond located nine km west of the airfield. The aircraft landed at high speed, collided with several obstacles and eventually came to rest, broken in three, after a course of 1,220 meters. Two crew members, three passengers and two people on the ground were killed. 31 occupants were injured and 15 were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach, the airplane was not properly aligned and the crew was instructed by ATC to make a go around. For unknown reason, the crew ignored this order and continued the approach. The airplane landed at an excessive speed and was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On the leg from Omsk to Irkutsk, at a distance of 160 km from the destination, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at Irkutsk Airport and was then diverted to Ust-Orda Airport. At this time, weather at Ust-Orda was as follow: cloud base at 250 meters, snow falls and a visibility of 3 km. On approach by night, the nose gear light was unserviceable so the captain decided to make a go around. For unknown reason, this procedure was delayed and he completed a low pass over the runway for about two km before making a turn to the left at a height of 10-15 meters when the airplane struck power cables. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on a hilly terrain near the airport. 46 passengers were uninjured while 19 occupants were injured. Three crew members were killed, the navigator, the radio operator and the mechanic. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 meters on a flight from Omsk to Moscow, the crew was informed by ATC that the route to Vnukovo was closed due to weather deterioration and was instructed to divert to Sverdlovsk and to reduce his altitude to 10,000 meters. Two minutes later, the pilot sent a mayday message, reporting he was losing control of the airplane that entered a dive. By an angle of 80°, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located along a railroad track near Kanash. The aircraft totally disintegrated on impact and all 80 occupants were killed, among them several foreign citizens such as three Sudanese, one Cambodian (Cambodian ambassador in China), eight Czech, three Romanian, one Polish, five East-German, five Hungarian, three Moroccan, two British, five French, one Iraqi and one Laotian.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft departed Khabarovsk Airport with a delay of 3 hours and 35 minutes due to poor weather conditions. En route, while cruising at an assigned altitude of 11,000 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to gain height to avoid the low pressure area. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 12,000 meters, the airplane went out of control and nosed down. It dove into the ground and crashed by an angle of 60° nose down in a field located near Chita. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 64 occupants were killed. Debris were scattered on a distance of about 450 meters.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew was performing a training flight from Novosibirsk to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport with an intermediate stop at Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport. While approaching Moscow, the crew informed ATC that the fuel reserves were insufficient and requested the permission to divert to the Dyagilevo Airbase located 180 km southeast of Moscow. Without checking local conditions, the flight director authorized the crew to divert to Dyagilevo. Upon arrival, the pilot was forced to make a go around due to poor weather conditions and it was then decided to divert to the Savasleyka Airbase located 200 km northeast of Dyagilevo. On final approach to Savasleyka Airfield, both engines stopped simultaneously. The airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 1,500 meters short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight crew members were seriously injured.