Aeroflot Flight 141
Aeroflot Flight 141 was an international flight from Moscow to Prague. On February 19, 1973, the Tupolev Tu-154 crashed half a kilometer short of runway 25 (today's 24) of Prague Ruzyně Airport. Most of the passengers survived the crash, but many died in the fire that followed. Out of the 87 passengers and 13 crew members, 62 passengers and 4 crew members perished. The crash was the first loss of and first fatal accident involving the Tu-154.[1]
An Aeroflot Tu-154 similar to the aircraft involved | |
Accident | |
---|---|
Date | February 19, 1973 |
Summary | Undetermined |
Site | 0.5 km from Prague Ruzyně Airport |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | Tupolev Tu-154 |
Operator | Aeroflot/International |
Registration | CCCP-85023 |
Flight origin | Sheremetyevo Airport |
Destination | Prague Ruzyně Airport |
Occupants | 100 |
Passengers | 87 |
Crew | 13 |
Fatalities | 66 |
Survivors | 34 |
The cause of the incident was not officially determined. One theory stated wind shear, while another theory was that the pilots wrongly set a horizontal stabilizer. The investigation of the accident also showed that controlling of the stabilizers was complicated. This was solved when Tu-154 aircraft were modernized to Tu-154A.
References
- Accident description for CCCP-85023 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 2014-9-2.