Tupolev TU-104 crash, Mar 17, 1979 (59 killed), Moscow-Vn...
Tupolev TU-104 accident on March 17, 1979 near Moscow-Vnukovo Moscow oblast, Russia with 59 fatalities. Cause: Descent below the minimum descent...
- Date: March 17, 1979
- Aircraft: Tupolev TU-104
- Location: Moscow-Vnukovo Moscow oblast, Russia
- Fatalities: 59
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Descent below the minimum descent altitude on a night approach in marginal weather. Contributing factors were a false engine fire warning caused by a parts mismatch in the engine, takeoff weight above the allowable limit, and the pilot in command having about 32 hours on the Tu-104.
Aeroflot Flight 1691, a Tupolev Tu-104B (CCCP-42444) bound for Odessa, received a false No. 1 engine fire warning five seconds after takeoff from Vnukovo and turned back for an emergency landing. On a night approach in marginal visibility the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude and struck the ground about 1,548 meters short of runway 01, then crashed in flames in a snow-covered field. Most fatalities were passengers.