2009 Uytash Airport collision
Template:Infobox Airliner accident
The 2009 Makhachkala Il-76 collision took place on 15 January 2009 at approximately 18:00 UTC, involving two Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes belonging to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). The incident occurred at Uytash Airport, which serves the city of Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia.
Accident
During the evening hours of January 15, 2009, a formation of four Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft from the 675th Special Aviation Regiment under the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs departed from Chkalovsky air base. These planes carried military personnel and equipment destined for Uytash Airport in Makhachkala. Their mission included offloading personnel and equipment before returning to their home base at Nizhny Novgorod Airport.
The initial aircraft successfully completed its landing and unloading procedures. The second aircraft, identified by tail number RA-76825, landed next, disembarked its cargo and personnel, then taxied to a runway access point where it awaited the arrival of the third aircraft, tail number RA-76827. The third Il-76 touched down amid challenging weather conditions characterized by fog, with runway visibility at approximately 800 meters and vertical visibility limited to about 60 meters. However, this aircraft deviated roughly 15–20 meters left of the runway centerline during landing. Prior to this, the stationary Il-76 on the ground had crossed the taxiway boundary line without notifying Air traffic control (ATC) of its position. Consequently, as the third aircraft landed, its wing collided with the cockpit section of the waiting RA-76825.
The impact severely damaged the cockpit area of RA-76825. Of its seven crew members aboard, four lost their lives: Commander/Lieutenant Colonel Maxim Dubankov, Flight Engineer Vladimir Knyazevič, Flight Radio Operator Alexander Alekhine, and Flight Engineer Anatoly Tupitsyn. Two others sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to a hospital in Kaspiysk. One crew member located elsewhere in the aircraft escaped serious harm. Onboard the landing aircraft (RA-76827), none of the six crew members or twenty-five passengers suffered injuries. Following an evaluation of the situation by the pilot of a fourth Il-76 in formation, that aircraft was diverted to an alternate airport.
Aftermath
Following the incident, Makhachkala Airport remained closed until the runway and affected zones were thoroughly cleared. The financial loss due to damage sustained by the two aircraft was estimated at 158.7 million rubles.
Aircraft RA-76827 underwent repairs at the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant located in Staraya Russa and was reinstated into operational service on 15 December 2010.
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Template:Aviation incidents and accidents in 2009 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Russia in the 2000s