1989 Soviet Air Force Il-76 crash

Soviet Air Force

Industry	Military aviation
Headquarters	Soviet Union

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence

On October 18, 1989, an Ilyushin Il-76 operated by the Soviet Air Force crashed into the Caspian Sea while en route from Nasosnaya Air Base in Azerbaijan SSR to Zhovtneve Air Base in Ukraine SSR. The aircraft was transporting paratroopers from the 98th Guards Airborne Division, and all 57 individuals aboard lost their lives. This tragedy remains the most fatal aviation accident recorded within Azerbaijan.

Accident

The Soviet Air Force's Ilyushin Il-76, bearing registration CCCP-76569, went down into the Caspian Sea on October 18, 1989, resulting in the deaths of all 57 passengers and crew members. Among those on board were paratroopers belonging to the 98th Guards Airborne Division. This event stands as the deadliest air disaster in Azerbaijan’s aviation history.

This flight was part of a scheduled training operation conducted near the city of Sumgait, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Shortly after taking off from Baku’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the aircraft encountered unexpected mechanical issues that led to its catastrophic failure.

Emergency response teams quickly mobilized following the crash and successfully retrieved both debris from the wreckage and remains of those aboard from beneath the Caspian Sea's surface. Subsequent investigations were initiated to establish the definitive causes behind this fatal accident.

Crew

The personnel on board included:

• Captain: Alexander Nikolaevich Kalmykov (41 years old)
• First Officer: Valery Viktorovich Vologin (27 years old)
• Flight Engineer: Alexander Nikolaevich Pesterev
• Navigator: Fashaddin Zakirov
• Flight Operator Instructor: Yury Nikolaevich Gavrikov
• Air Gunner: Alexander Vladimirovich Andriyash
• Flight Engineer Instructor: Evgeny Viktorovich Andreev
• Ground Engineer: Sergei Khochuevich Gashimov
• Ground Engineer: Igor Alexandrovich Krayukhin

Passengers (98th Guards Airborne Division)

• Captain Nikolai Nikolaevich Zorev, commanding officer of the 98th Guards
• Constable Ruslan Isaevich Abazov
• Constable Vladimir Sergeevich Ananchenko
• Second Lieutenant Yury Nikolaevich Arsyonov
• Constable Gennady Konstantinovich Baykov
• Constable Sergei Yurievich Baykov
• Constable Maxim Vladimirovich Boltushkin
• First Lieutenant Evgeny Nikolaevich Borodulin
• Constable Oleg Nikolaeivch Vasyuchkov
• Constable Giesidin Jamalovich Vakhidov
• Constable Vadim Vladimirovich Vorobyov
• Corporal Vladimir Viktorovich Gaidai
• Corporal Ildar Mailievich Galiveev
• Second Lieutenant Alexander Petrovich Gurov
• Constable Yury Alexandrovich Zhukov
• Sergeant Ildar Mazganovich Zaripov
• Corporal Ramil Varisovich Islamgulov
• First Lieutenant Dimitry Orestovich Kovrigin
• Constable Igor Gennadievich Kuznetsov
• Corporal Valery Vladimirovich Kulbitskiy
• Constable Ruslan Yakhievich Kutluguzin
• Constable Adhamjon Toshmirzaevich Kuchkarov
• Constable Yury Nikolaevich Lakov
• Constable Chingizkhan Mukharbekovich Magomadov
• Corporal Vladimir Gavievich Machetidze
• Sergeant Oleg Vladimirovich Merzlikin
• Sergeant Major Nikolai Georgievich Morozov
• Constable Stanislav Vladimirovich Morozov
• Constable Valery Stanislavovich Mostovskiy
• Sergeant Viktor Leonidovich Motuzka
• Constable Mikhail Mikhailovich Pastukhov
• First Lieutenant Sergei Vitalievich Petrov
• Constable Pavel Alekseevich Puzikov
• Sergeant Vyacheslav Semyonovich Revenko
• Constable Murad Rejepovich Reznik
• First Lieutenant Igor Anatolievich Reznichenko
• Constable Sergei Mikhailovich Ribko
• Constable Stanislav Viktorovich Svinitskiy
• Constable Fazliddin Saidalievich Soliev
• Constable Igor Alekseevich Streletskiy
• Sergeant Vladislav Nikolaevich Suslov
• Constable Sergei Vladimirovich Terekhin
• Sergeant Vitaly Viktorovich Trokhalev
• Constable Alexander Yurievich Khazov
• Sergeant Sergei Viktorovich Chugai
• Constable Vladislav Vladimirovich Chuykin
• Sergeant Valery Alexandrovich Shevchenko
• Corporal Sergei Mikhailovich Yapryntsev

Investigation

The incident was attributed to a defect in the engine's design. Specifically, failure of the inter-shaft bearing caused the low-pressure turbine shaft to break due to excessive heat exposure.

Legacy

All individuals on board received the order "For Personal Courage" posthumously. Memorials honoring the fallen were established in Bolhrad, Ivanovo, Hvardiiske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Artsyz, located in Odesa Oblast. Additionally, the musical group Blue Berets composed a song in tribute to the crew.

External links

• Cockpit Voice Recording on YouTube