Aeroflot Flight 1802
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Soviet Union |
Area served | Domestic and international air transport |
| Products | Air transport services |
| Owner | Soviet government |
Template:Infobox Aircraft accident
Aeroflot Flight 1802 (Russian: Рейс 1802 Аэрофлота Reys 1802 Aeroflota) was a scheduled service traveling from Vinnytsia to Moscow that ended in a fatal crash after an abrupt rudder deflection and feathering of the propellers on May 15, 1976. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 52 individuals aboard.[1]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-24RV bearing registration CCCP-46534 operated by Aeroflot. This plane was completed on February 27, 1975. Throughout its operational period, it logged a total of 2,996 flight hours and underwent 2,228 pressurization cycles.[2]
Crew
There were six crew members on board. The flight deck team included:Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
- Captain Fyodor Chumak, pilot-in-command
- First Officer Viktor Pashchenko
- Navigator Pyotr Maksimenko
- Trainee navigator Viktor Kozlov
- Flight Engineer Ivan Ukhan
Synopsis
During the flight, the skies over the Chernihiv Oblast were dominated by thunderclouds. Weather conditions included a moderate southwest wind at 6 m/s from a 250° bearing and intermittent rain showers. Ground visibility at the airport measured approximately 10 kilometers under cumulonimbus cloud cover. At around 10:47, while cruising at 5,700 meters altitude and traveling at 350 km/h, the aircraft’s rudder unexpectedly shifted sharply 25° to the right, causing changes in roll and yaw angles. The pilots promptly attempted to counteract this by manipulating the ailerons to stabilize the aircraft’s roll. Moments later, the rudder moved again by 9°, accompanied by elevator deflections that pitched the nose upward by about 30°. These movements caused the aircraft to reach critical angles of attack and enter a tailspin. At this point, the propellers were feathered. The plane ultimately impacted terrain approximately 14.5 kilometers southeast of Chernigovskiy airport along a bearing of 245° at roughly 10:48, descending uncontrollably at nearly 100 m/s. Tragically, all occupants on board lost their lives.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Causes
The crash occurred as a result of losing control when the rudder deflected following the autopilot's disconnection; however, the exact origin of the rudder's movement was never conclusively identified. One possibility is that a pilot inadvertently activated the rudder trim control switch. Alternatively, an electrical malfunction might have contributed to the mechanical failure.
See also
- United Airlines Flight 585 – another accident attributed to a rudder hardover.
- USAir Flight 427 – a separate crash caused by rudder hardover.
- Eastwind Airlines Flight 517 – an additional event involving rudder hardover.
References
Template:Aeroflot Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1976 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Soviet Union in the 1970s Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Ukraine