Narrative:
While on an ILS approach to runway 25, the aircraft suddenly descended below the glide slope and struck the ground nose wheel-first, 467 m short of the runway. It broke up and burst into flames.
While investigators officially concluded that the cause of the crash was undetermined, it has been argued based on a draft of the final report, that the copilot may have inadvertently trimmed the horizontal stabilizer to 0° on final approach.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Owing to the high degree of destruction and total disintegration of the aircraft in the crash and ensuing fire it was not possible to establish the precise cause of the accident. The influence of unexpected atmospheric turbulence during the aircraft's final approach cannot be entirely ruled out."
» planes.cz
» ICAO Circular 132-AN/93 (50-62)
» L+K magazine (May 2013)
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Monday 19 February 1973 |
| Time: | 09:06 UTC |
| Type: |  Tupolev Tu-154 |
| Operator: | Aeroflot, International Civil Aviation Directorate |
| Registration: | CCCP-85023 |
| MSN: | 72A023 |
| First flight: | 1972 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 459 |
| Cycles: | 261 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 13 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 62 / Occupants: 87 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 66 / Occupants: 100 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 0,5 km (0.3 mls) NE of Praha-Ruzyne International Airport (PRG) ( Czech Republic)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO/UUEE), Russia |
| Praha-Ruzyne International Airport (PRG/LKPR), Czech Republic | |
| Flightnumber: | 141 |
While on an ILS approach to runway 25, the aircraft suddenly descended below the glide slope and struck the ground nose wheel-first, 467 m short of the runway. It broke up and burst into flames.
While investigators officially concluded that the cause of the crash was undetermined, it has been argued based on a draft of the final report, that the copilot may have inadvertently trimmed the horizontal stabilizer to 0° on final approach.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Owing to the high degree of destruction and total disintegration of the aircraft in the crash and ensuing fire it was not possible to establish the precise cause of the accident. The influence of unexpected atmospheric turbulence during the aircraft's final approach cannot be entirely ruled out."
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» www.idnes.cz» planes.cz
» ICAO Circular 132-AN/93 (50-62)
» L+K magazine (May 2013)
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport to Praha-Ruzyne International Airport as the crow flies is 1658 km (1036 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from Moskva-Sheremetyevo Airport to Praha-Ruzyne International Airport as the crow flies is 1658 km (1036 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Czech Republic
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Tupolev Tu-154
- 1026 built
- The first loss
- The first fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 22nd worst accident (currently)
Czech Republic- The worst accident (at the time)
- 2nd worst accident (currently)
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