Aeroflot Flight 2174
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Moscow , Soviet Union |
| Products | Air transport services |
Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence
Aeroflot Flight 2174 was a domestic passenger service operated by an Antonov An-24B that crashed during its final approach to Saratov Tsentralny Airport on Wednesday, 1 December 1971. All 57 individuals aboard perished. The subsequent investigation determined that atmospheric icing caused the crew to lose control of the plane.
Accident
Flight 2174 was scheduled to fly from Yekaterinburg to Saratov, with a planned stopover in Ufa. Departing from Ufa International Airport at 19:59 local time, the Antonov experienced no issues until initiating descent toward Saratov Tsentralny Airport. During this phase, the aircraft encountered icing conditions. As ice accumulated on the airframe, the pilots increased engine power attempting to mitigate its effects; however, control was ultimately lost. The plane impacted terrain at a steep descent rate approximately 13 kilometers northwest of the airport runway and about 1,130 meters right of the runway centerline. At impact, both landing gear and flaps were retracted. A post-crash fire ensued, and there were no survivors.[1][2][3]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-24B bearing serial number 57301801 and registered as CCCP-46788 under Aeroflot’s fleet. Manufactured on 4 April 1965, it had accumulated a total flight time of 10,913 hours along with 8,544 takeoff and landing cycles before the fatal accident.[1][2][3]
Investigation
The inquiry revealed that under prevailing weather conditions, an estimated ice layer of around 15 millimeters formed on the aircraft surfaces. This buildup significantly increased aerodynamic drag and impaired the wings’ lift-generating capability. Examination of the crash site indicated that the anti-icing system controls were found switched off, confirming that anti-icing measures were not engaged during the incident. The investigation was unable to establish why the crew did not activate the anti-icing system.[1][2]
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References
Template:Aeroflot Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1971 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Soviet Union in the 1970s
- Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-24
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1971
- Aviation accidents and incidents in the Soviet Union
- 20th-century aviation accidents and incidents in Russia
- Aeroflot accidents and incidents
- 1971 in the Soviet Union
- 1971 in Russia
- December 1971 in the Soviet Union