1976 Anapa mid-air collision

44°33′7″N 37°18′18″E / 44.55194°N 37.30500°E / 44.55194; 37.30500Total fatalities70 (all)Total survivors0First aircraft

An Aeroflot Antonov An-24RV, similar to the one involvedTypeAntonov An-24RVOperatorAeroflotRegistrationCCCP-46518Flight originGomel Airport, Belorussian SSRStopoverDonetsk Airport, Ukrainian SSRDestinationSochi Airport, Russian SFSRPassengers47Crew5Fatalities52 (all)Survivors0Second aircraft

An Aeroflot Yakolev Yak-40, similar to the one involvedTypeYakovlev Yak-40OperatorAeroflotRegistrationCCCP-87772Flight originRostov-on-Don Airport, Russian SFSRDestinationKerch Airport, Ukrainian SSRPassengers14Crew4Fatalities18 (all)Survivors0

The 1976 Anapa mid-air collision was the collision of Aeroflot Flight 7957 (an Antonov An-24RV) and Aeroflot Flight S-31 (a Yakovlev Yak-40) on 9 September 1976, off the coast of Anapa in the Soviet Union. All 70 people on the two aircraft were killed in the crash. The primary cause of the accident was determined to be error by the air traffic controller; investigators never recovered the fuselage of the Yak-40.^[1]

Aircraft involved

Antonov An-24RV

Aeroflot Flight 7957 was an Antonov An-24 registered as CCCP-46518 with 47 passengers and 5 crew members aboard. The aircraft was constructed in Kiev and first flew in 1973. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had sustained a total of 6,107 flight hours and 4,626 pressurization cycles.^[1]^[2]

Crew

Of the five crew members aboard, the cockpit crew consisted of:^[3]

Captain Mikhail Gutanov (Михаил Михайлович Гутанов)
Co-pilot Anatoly Buryi (Анатолий Антонович Бурый)
Flight engineer Vladimir Pimenov (Владимир Александрович Пименов)
Navigator Sergey Artemyev (Сергей Леонидович Артемьев)

Yakolev Yak-40

Aeroflot Flight S-31 was a Yakovlev Yak-40 registered as CCCP-87772 with 14 passengers and 4 crew members aboard. The aircraft was constructed in 1970 at the Saratov Aviation Plant and transferred to Aeroflot shortly thereafter. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had sustained 6,842 flight hours and 7,174 pressurization cycles.^[1]^[4]

Crew

The cockpit crew of the Yak-40 consisted of:^[3]

Captain Anatoly Ledenev (Анатолий Семенович Леденев)
Co-pilot Vladimir Gapon (Владимир Яковлевич Гапон)
Flight engineer Kevork Sandulyan (Кеворк Каспарович Сандулян)

Crash details

The Yakolev Yak-40 departed from Rostov-on-Don Airport at 12:47 Moscow time and proceeded on the route to Kerch. The air traffic controller in charge of the Western section of Krasnodar had been working for more than six hours by 13:30:44, the time the Yak-40 entered his sector of airspace while at an altitude of 5,700 metres (18,700 ft). After receiving confirmation from the controller the Yak-40 continued the flight path and reported passing the Novodmitrievskaya non-directional beacon at 13:34 and remained at an altitude of 5,700 metres. After passing that point the flight was supposed to decrease altitude in accordance with the flight plan, but the controller was busy managing other flights so he let the flight continue on to the Gelenjik-Kerch part of the route at the 5,700-meter altitude. At 13:43 the Yak-40 reported passing Gelendzhik and stated its altitude to be 5,700 metres, to which the controller responded by granting it permission to proceed with the Anapa transverse but yet again forgot to instruct the aircraft to change altitude.^[1]

The Antonov An-24 departed from Donetsk Airport at 12:56 for the flight to Sochi. At 13:32 the crew reported entering the Western section of Krasnodar on the Primorsko-Akhtarsk traverse at an altitude of 5,700 metres – the same altitude as the Yak-40 in the same section of airspace. The controller responded by permitting the An-24 to proceed to Anapa and keep the current altitude, then gave permission for the aircraft to continue on to Dzhubga without changing altitude.^[1]

At 13:51:05 Moscow time, the An-24 and Yak-40 collided in the air at an altitude of 5,700 meters, severing the tail sections of both aircraft. Both aircraft broke apart in mid-air and the wreckage fell into the Black Sea. All 70 people in the two aircraft were killed in the accident. The wreckage of the An-24 and the tail section of the Yak-40 were found in the Black Sea at a depth of 500–600 metres (1,600–2,000 ft). Most of the dead from the An-24 were recovered from the water but no bodies from the Yak-40 were found nor was the fuselage of the Yak-40 recovered.^[1]^[5]

Causes

The cause of the accident was determined mostly from radio and ground communications. The primary cause of the accident was described as a violation of the rules for maintaining separation between aircraft by the air traffic controller. Secondary causes of the accident were failure of both crews to remain sufficiently alert and a lack of appropriate situational analysis leading up to the accident.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Столкновение над Черным морем Як-40 и Ан-24РВ" [Collision over the Black Sea Yak-40 and An-24RV]. www.airdisaster.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
^ "Антонов Ан-24РВ Бортовой №: СССР-46518" [Antonov An-24RV Airborne No.: USSR-46518]. russianplanes.net (in Russian). April 25, 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
^ ^a ^b "The clash over the Black Sea Yak-40 and An-24RV. 1976". en.avia.pro. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
^ "Яковлев Як-40 Бортовой №: СССР-87772" [Yakovlev Yak-40 Bortovoy No.: USSR-87772]. russianplanes.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
^ "Фрагмент крыла самолёта Ан-24б №46518" [Fragment of the wing of the An-24b aircraft No. 46518]. aqua-globus.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-12-23.

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Inactive	Dobrolet Donavia Orenair SAT Airlines Vladivostok Air
Exited	Aurora Nordavia (now Smartavia)

Fleet

Accidents and
incidents

1950s	Flight 31 Kiev mid-air collision Flight 04 Тu-104 Kanash crash Flight 120 Flight 200 Flight 315
1960s	Flight 315 Flight 207 Flight 036 Flight 068 Flight 245 Flight 902 Flight 415 Flight 03 Flight 213 Flight 191 Flight 25 Flight 012 Flight 366 Flight 663 Flight 721 Flight 101/X-20 Flight 542 Flight 513 Flight 99 Flight 065 Flight 2723 Flight 5003 Flight 2230 Flight L-51 Flight 1668 Flight 15 Flight 831 Flight N-826
1970s	Flight U-45 Flight 1661 Flight 3630 CCCP-11000 crash CCCP-12996 crash Flight 1969 Flight 1912 Flight 773 Flight 2174 Flight 1491 Flight 558 Flight 1036 Flight 217 Flight 6263 Flight 141 Flight 630 Flight 6551 Flight 109 Flight A-13 Flight 3932 Flight 964 Flight 19 Flight 2022 CCCP-75559 crash Flight 662 Flight 2003 Flight 3739 Flight 909 Flight 1802 Flight 418 Flights 7957 and 31 Flight 2415 Flight N-36 Flight 3843 Flight 5003 Flight 331 Flight B-2 Flight 6709 Flight 1080 Flight 1691 Flights 7628 and 7880 Flight 5484
1980s	Flight 4225 Flight 498 Flight 811 Flight 3603 Flight 8641 Flight 411 Flight 343 Flight 5463 Flight 601 Flight 3352 Flight 3519 Flight 7841 Zolochiv mid-air collision Flight 5143 Flight 101/435 Flight 2306 Flight 6502 Flight 892 Flight U-505 Flight N-528 Flight 699 Flight 3739
since 1990s	CCCP-46472 crash Flight 2808 Flight 593 Flight 521 Flight 821 Flight 1492

v t e Aviation accidents and incidents in 1976 (1976)
Jan 1 Middle East Airlines Flight 438 Jan 3 Aeroflot Flight 2003 Jan 15 Taxi Aereo el Venado Douglas DC-4 accident Feb 9 Aeroflot Flight 3739 Mar 6 Aeroflot Flight 909 Apr 5 Alaska Airlines Flight 60 Apr 26 Gubir shootdown Apr 27 American Airlines Flight 625 May 9 Imperial Iranian Air Force Flight 48 May 15 Aeroflot Flight 1802 May 23 Philippine Airlines Flight 116 Jun 1 Aeroflot Flight 418 Jun 4 Air Manila Flight 702 Jun 6 Double Six Crash Jun 27 Air France Flight 139 Jul 28 ČSA Flight 001 Aug 15 SAETA Flight 232 Aug 23 EgyptAir Flight 321 Sep 9 Anapa mid-air collision Sep 10 Zagreb mid-air collision Sep 10 TWA Flight 355 Sep 19 Turkish Airlines Flight 452 Oct 6 Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 Oct 12 Indian Airlines Flight 171 Oct 13 LAB Boeing 707 crash Nov 23 Olympic Airways Flight 830 Nov 28 Aeroflot Flight 2415 Dec 17 Aeroflot Flight N-36 Dec 25 EgyptAir Flight 864
1975 ◄ ► 1977

Aviation accidents and incidents in 1976 (1976)

Jan 1

Middle East Airlines Flight 438

Jan 3

Aeroflot Flight 2003

Jan 15

Taxi Aereo el Venado Douglas DC-4 accident

Feb 9

Aeroflot Flight 3739

Mar 6

Aeroflot Flight 909

Apr 5

Alaska Airlines Flight 60

Apr 26

Gubir shootdown

Apr 27

American Airlines Flight 625

May 9

Imperial Iranian Air Force Flight 48

May 15

Aeroflot Flight 1802

May 23

Philippine Airlines Flight 116

Jun 1

Aeroflot Flight 418

Jun 4

Air Manila Flight 702

Jun 6

Double Six Crash

Jun 27

Air France Flight 139

Jul 28

ČSA Flight 001

Aug 15

SAETA Flight 232

Aug 23

EgyptAir Flight 321

Sep 9

Anapa mid-air collision

Sep 10

Zagreb mid-air collision

Sep 10

TWA Flight 355

Sep 19

Turkish Airlines Flight 452

Oct 6

Cubana de Aviación Flight 455

Oct 12

Indian Airlines Flight 171

Oct 13

LAB Boeing 707 crash

Nov 23

Olympic Airways Flight 830

Nov 28

Aeroflot Flight 2415

Dec 17

Aeroflot Flight N-36

Dec 25

EgyptAir Flight 864

1975 ◄ ► 1977

Aviation accidents and incidents in the Soviet Union

1930s	Osoaviakhim-1 SSSR-V6 Osoaviakhim
1940s	1948 Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-12 crash
1950s	1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash LOT Polish Airlines Flight 232 1957 Kiev mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 04 1958 Aeroflot Tu-104 Kanash crash Aeroflot Flight 315 (1959) Aeroflot Flight 120 Aeroflot Flight 200
1960s	Aeroflot Flight 315 (1960) U-2 incident Aeroflot Flight 207 RB-47 shootdown incident Aeroflot Flight 036 Austrian Airlines Flight 901 Aeroflot Flight 068 Aeroflot Flight 245 Aeroflot Flight 902 Aeroflot Flight 415 Aeroflot Flight 213 (1962) Aeroflot Flight 191 Aeroflot Flight 03 Aeroflot Flight 25 Aeroflot Flight 012 Aeroflot Flight 366 Aeroflot Flight 663 Aeroflot Flight 721 Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20 Aeroflot Flight 542 Aeroflot Flight 513 Aeroflot Flight 99 Aeroflot Flight 065 Aeroflot Flight 2723 Aeroflot Flight 5003 (1967) Aeroflot Flight 2230 Aeroflot Flight L-51 Aeroflot Flight 15 Seaboard World Airlines Flight 253A 1969 Yukhnov mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight N-826
1970s	Aeroflot Flight U-45 Aeroflot Flight 1661 Dymshits–Kuznetsov hijacking affair Aeroflot Flight 3630 Aeroflot Flight 244 22 January 1971 Surgut Aeroflot Antonov An-12 crash 31 January 1971 Surgut Aeroflot Antonov An-12 crash Aeroflot Flight 1969 Aeroflot Flight 1912 Malév Flight 110 Aeroflot Flight 773 Aeroflot Flight N-63 Aeroflot Flight 2174 Aeroflot Flight 1491 Aeroflot Flight 558 Aeroflot Flight 1036 Aeroflot Flight 217 Japan Air Lines Flight 446 Aeroflot Flight 6263 Aeroflot Flight 141 Aeroflot Flight 630 Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Flight 307 Aeroflot Flight 6551 Aeroflot Flight 109 Aeroflot Flight A-13 Aeroflot Flight 3932 Aeroflot Flight 964 Aeroflot Flight 19 Aeroflot Flight 2022 1974 Leningrad Aeroflot Il-18 crash 1974 Surgut mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 2003 Aeroflot Flight 3739 (1976) Aeroflot Flight 909 Aeroflot Flight 1802 Aeroflot Flight A-53 Aeroflot Flight 418 1976 Anapa mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 2415 Aeroflot Flight N-36 Aeroflot Flight 3843 Aeroflot Flight 5003 (1977) 1977 Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-134 hijacking Aeroflot Flight B-2 Aeroflot Flight 6709 Korean Air Lines Flight 902 1978 Yegoryevsk Tu-144 crash Iranian Chinook shootdown Aeroflot Flight 1080 Aeroflot Flight 1691 1979 Dniprodzerzhynsk mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 5484
1980s– Dec. 1991	Aeroflot Flight 4225 1981 Pushkin Tu-104 crash Aeroflot Flight 498 1981 Armenia mid-air collision 1981 Zheleznogorsk mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 811 Aeroflot Flight 3603 Aeroflot Flight 8641 Aeroflot Flight 411 Aeroflot Flight 5463 Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Aeroflot Flight 601 Aeroflot Flight 3352 Aeroflot Flight 3519 Aeroflot Flight 7841 1985 Zolochiv mid-air collision Aeroflot Flight 5143 Aeroflot Flight 101/435 Aeroflot Flight 2306 Aeroflot Flight 6502 Aeroflot Flight U-505 Aeroflot Flight N-528 Aeroflot Flight 699 Aeroflot Flight 3739 (1988) 1988 Soviet Air Force Il-76 crash An-24 crash in Navoiy Aeroflot Flight 8556