October 23 - A bad day for Soviet Aviation, with four aircraft crashes On This Day ➡️ 1978: Aeroflot Flight 6515, an An-24, crashes off Emelyanovka (Ukraine), all 26 aboard die. Cruising at 2400 ft in icing conditions, both engines failed, plane went down 14 mi from shore. Inquiry found crew did not follow operating procedures, noting training issues. ➡️ 1972: Two Soviet AF An-12s collide in midair over Tula (Russia). All 27 aboard both planes die. Accident occurred while both flights were on approach. Inquiry stated radar failed and ATC was unable to determine the aircrafts position. Poor visibility was a contributing factor. ➡️1959: Aeroflot Flight 200, a Il-14, crashes in Moscow (Russia). 28 of 29 aboard die. On approach at night in bad weather, plane hit ground on CFIT 4600 ft from runway. Cause: crew actions placing plane under glide slope. Factors: fatigue, inexperience, visibility. You might not know the accident, but you might recall the pictures, as the wreckage stood “in situ” for some time ➡️ 1996: an Argentine AF B-707 crashes in Buenos Aires (Argentina). 2 of 8 aboard die. On approach, jet developed nose down attitude and impacted ground 2460 ft from runway. Enquiry pointed to crew actions, namely improper setting of air brakes and flaps. Bad weather takes no R&R from combat zones ➡️1971: South Vietnamese Air Force C-47 crashes in Qui Nhon (Vietnam). 22 of 23 aboard die. During approach, under bad weather - heavy rain falls, due to typhoon Hester - airplane went down a few miles short of the runway. The B-34 was likely jinxed. It was repaired a few months later and crashed on a ferry flight (all 3 KIA) ➡️1942: American Airlines Flight 28, a DC-3, collides with a USAAF B-34 over California (US). All 12 on the airliner die, bomber lands safely. Planes collided during an informal mid-air greeting. Investigation blamed bomber pilot by "reckless" conduct, he was acquitted. ➡️1957: a BEA Viscount crashes in Nutts Corner (Belfast, N. Ireland), all 7 aboard die. Aircraft drifted right of the runway on approach. An overshoot was carried out, but the aircraft went down 1000 ft south of the runway. Cause was not determined. ➡️1975: Connair Flight 1263, a DH-114, crashes in Cairns (Queensland, Australia), all 11 aboard die. On a missed approach in bad weather, aircraft collided with the ground during a turn. Inquiry pointed crew actions on the maneuver, noting pilot did not follow SOP.