1996 Abakan Ilyushin Il-76 crash

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Russian Air Force-operated Ilyushin Il-76MD, designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and manufactured by the Tashkent Aviation Production Association in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (modern-day Uzbekistan). The Il-76 involved, registered as RA-78804, was initially made in 1989, flying for Soviet Air Forces until in 1991. The aircraft later made its way to operate with the Russian Air Force until the crash in 1996.

The following crew members in the flight were:

• Captain: Andrei Vitalievich Berezhnoy.
• First Officer: Kirill Vladimirovich Lyapushkin.
• Flight Engineer: Andrei Georgievich Uskov
• Navigator: Dimitry Alexandrovich Kachura.
• Flight Operator: Vadim Vasilievich Belikov.
• Flight Instructor: Andrei Olegovich Yakovlev.

The following crew members were not in the cockpit:

• Reserve Captain: Victor Nickolaevich Sivokoz.
• Reserve First Officer: Alexander Nikolaevich Rybak.
• Reserve Flight Operator: Alexander Vitalievich Smirnov.
• (Tail Turret Operator) Air Gunner: Vladimir Alexandrovich Hrapak.^[2][3]

Carrying an official payload of 30 tonnes (66,000 lb), the aircraft underwent refueling at Abakan before attempting takeoff. However, during the climb-out phase, the plane ascended with an unusually shallow climb angle, deviating from standard procedures. Instead of initiating a turn 4 km from the runway at a minimum altitude of 200 m, the aircraft continued on a straight path until reaching the designated altitude. By this point, the plane was turning towards rising terrain. The aircraft collided with a hillside 14 km beyond the runway, resulting in a fire. 23 people died instantly in impact with no survivors.^[4][5]