The 1981 Zheleznogorsk mid-air collision involved a Yakovlev Yak-40 jet and a Mil Mi-8T helicopter, both operated by Aeroflot. The accident occurred 11 km east of Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskiy Airport, Soviet Union, on the 18th of September 1981. Tragically, all 40 passengers and crew aboard both aircraft perished.
While flight V-652 was en route to Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskiy from Irkutsk, a Mil Mi-8T helicopter was also approaching the same airport after completing a training flight from Bratsk. The V-652 crew began their descent and encountered clouds obscuring the runway. Approximately 11 km (6.9 miles) east of the airport at an altitude of 1,300 ft (396 m), the aircraft collided with the descending helicopter at 7.13 am. The collision inflicted severe damage on flight V-652's left wing, fuselage, and tail, while the helicopter's main rotor and cockpit were destroyed, and its fuselage was seriously damaged. Following the collision, both aircraft plummeted into a wooded hilly area, crashing 400 meters (1,300 feet) apart. All 29 passengers and 4 crew members on flight V-652, along with the 7 crew members of the Mil Mi-8T helicopter, were killed in the tragic accident.
The wreckage of both aircraft was completely destroyed in the accident and subsequent fire. The investigation determined that the cause was inadequate surveillance by ATC. This failure in communication among the three parties permitted the Mil Mi-8T helicopter to enter the approach path of flight V-652.
The Yakovlev Yak-40 involved, CCCP-87455 (MSN 9431236) was built in 1974 and was used by Aeroflot from 1974 until its destruction in 1981. The Mil Mi-8T involved, CCCP-22268 (MSN 6918) was also in use by Aeroflot at the time of the accident.
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