Aeroflot Flight 3012

Aeroflot Flight 3012

Another Il-18V, which also crashed near Leningrad in 1974
Occurrence
Date	31 December 1970
Summary	Loss of control after takeoff due to improper aircraft configuration (flaps retracted, control locks/ignition engaged; reduced thrust from anti-ice off)
Site	Pulkovo Airport, Leningrad, Soviet Union
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Ilyushin Il-18V
Operator	Aeroflot
Registration	CCCP-75773
Flight origin	Pulkovo Airport, Leningrad
Destination	Yerevan Airport
Occupants	86-88
Passengers	78
Crew	8
Fatalities	6-88
Injuries	0-26
Survivors	0-80

Aeroflot Flight 3012, on 31 December 1970, was a domestic Aeroflot scheduled flight from Leningrad to Yerevan by an Ilyushin Il-18 which crashed during takeoff.

Attempts were made to hush up the crash, but a week after the event it was reported via westen airlines who had heard of it from Aeroflot personnel. Early reports stated all 88 people onboard were killed. The Russian investigation states six of the 86 people on board were killed.

Aircraft and occupants

The aircraft was an approximately nine-year-old Ilyushin Il-18V (registration CCCP-75773, construction number 182004505) equipped with four Ivchenko AI-20 engines. ^[1]

Accident

The Il-18 climbed unusually steeply and began rolling from side to side, maintaining an altitude of 30–50 m for the first 2,500 m of flight. It then banked to the right and began losing altitude. The aircraft then struck a snow-covered field with its tail. The aircraft which was flying at a critical angle of attack, impacted nose-first and slid another 210 m. ^{[1] [2]}

Aftermath

The accident was not covered by Russian media. ^[3] On 6 January, Western airlines in Moscow announced the crash. ^[4] Sources of Aeroflot only learnt of the crash on 8 January. ^[5] According to UPI, aircraft crashes were always kept secret unless there were foreigners on board the flights. ^[6] In the earliest reports of the accident on 6 January, six days after the accident, it was reported at least two people died; the pilot and copilot. ^{[4] [6]} A few days later it was reported the crash killed all 88 people onboard. ^{[3] [7] [5]} The Aviation Safety Network states that 6 of the 86 people on board were killed. ^[1]

Cause

An investigation found that the flight crew forgot to select the flaps prior to takeoff due to a hurried takeoff. ^[1]

References

1. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
2. "Accident description". airdisaster.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
3. "Vliegtuigongeluk in Sovjet-Unie kostee 88 levens: dagen verzwegen". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 9 January 1971. Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Delpher.
4. "Russisch verkeersvliegtuig in Leningrad neergestort". Trouw (in Dutch). 6 January 1971. Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Delpher.
5. "Russische IL-18 neergestort: 88 mensen gedood". Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 9 January 1971. Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Delpher.
6. "Vliegongeluk in Rusland". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Delpher.
7. "Vliegramp in Rusland: 88 doden". De Tijd (in Dutch). 9 January 1971. Retrieved 13 November 2025– via Delpher.