Antonov AN-24 crash, Dec 30, 1967 (43 killed), Liepaja Co...
Antonov AN-24 accident on December 30, 1967 near Liepaja Courland (Kurzeme), Latvia with 43 fatalities. Cause: The investigation found pilot error: the...
- Date: December 30, 1967
- Aircraft: Antonov AN-24
- Location: Liepaja Courland (Kurzeme), Latvia
- Fatalities: 43
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The investigation found pilot error: the aircraft entered the approach too fast and too high, reverse thrust was misused, and the flaps and landing gear were retracted too early during a go around.
Aeroflot flight L51, a scheduled Riga to Liepaja service, was operated by an An24B. On approach to Liepaja on 30 December 1967 the crew could not locate the runway or approach lights, and after a go around the left engine failed, the aircraft banked and struck snow covered ground short of the runway. Of 51 people on board, 43 died, making it the deadliest aviation accident in Latvian history.