Ilyushin II-12 crash, Jun 14, 1953 (18 killed), Zugdidi S...
Ilyushin II-12 accident on June 14, 1953 near Zugdidi Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia with 18 fatalities. Cause: Thunderstorm with lightning strike,...
- Date: June 14, 1953
- Aircraft: Ilyushin II-12
- Location: Zugdidi Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia
- Fatalities: 18
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Thunderstorm with lightning strike, turbulence and hail leading to loss of control and in-flight structural failure
An Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-12 on a scheduled flight from Moscow to Tbilisi, after a weather diversion to Krasnodar, resumed its flight under VFR into a thunderstorm. It was struck by lightning, went into an uncontrolled dive and broke up in the air near Zugdidi. All 18 occupants were killed.