Yakovlev Yak-40 crash, Mar 20, 1979, Chardzhou Lebap Prov...
Yakovlev Yak-40 accident on March 20, 1979 near Chardzhou Lebap Province, Turkmenistan with no fatalities. Cause: Loss of control on short final caused...
- Date: March 20, 1979
- Aircraft: Yakovlev Yak-40
- Location: Chardzhou Lebap Province, Turkmenistan
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Loss of control on short final caused by wake turbulence from a Mil Mi-6 helicopter ahead of the Yak-40; the approach controller did not maintain the minimum separation. Poor ATC organisation in Turkmenistan was a contributing factor.
A Yakovlev Yak-40K operating an Aeroflot scheduled service from Ashgabat to Chardzhou banked left and lost height on final approach at 30 to 40 meters, then crashed onto dachas in the approach path. All 35 occupants survived, the flight engineer was injured, and nobody on the ground was hurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.