Only one photo of RA-86039 could be found (under its CCCP registration). Due to the image size, it is only compatible on the thumbnail.
Aircraft Photo:
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Accident Details:
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On July 8th, 1993 an IL-76 of the Russian Air Force was performing a training flight for air gunner trainees. The flight crew consisted of:
• Captain: Vladimir Viktorovich Gudin
• First Officer: Andrey Polikarpovich Dolganov
• Flight Engineer: Alexander Fyodorovich Sinyukov
• Navigator: Pavel Borisovich Volgin
• Flight Operator: Alexey Valentinovich Blinkov
• Air Gunner Instructor: Anatoly Fedorovich Bashinov
• Air Gunner Instructor: Vasily Petrovich Polovinsky
• Air Gunner Instructor: Arkady Borisovich Vasiliev
• Trainee: Dmitry Vladimirovich Jivyh
• Trainee: Konstantin Valerievich Orlov
• Trainee: Vitaly Anatolyevich Zubarev
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft at an altitude of about 250 meters began a turn over the "Cheryokhinsk" combat range. 8 minutes after takeoff at an altitude of about 1200 meters, communication with the air gunner cockpit ceased. At the same time, a noise appeared in the internal and external communication systems which the crew could not eliminate. A fire erupted in the air gunner's cockpit which later spread to nearby ammunition, causing an explosion. The explosion damaged the aircraft's elevator causing a loss of pitch control.
The flight director ordered the crew to abort the training mission and make an approach. Three minutes later the pilots began to perform an emergency descent, due to a loss of elevator controls the descent became uncontrollable and the aircraft crashed at 20:47 local time, 3 kilometers from the runway.
The cause of the fire remained unknown. There is a possible cause that the fire was caused by a bullet that pierced the aircraft's hydraulic systems. At the time of the accident, paratroopers were firing weapons at the "Cheryokhinsk" combat range which the aircraft flew over. Following the disaster, aircraft were no longer equipped with guns and ammunition during training flights, and subsequently, the gunner's position was abolished.
Huge thanks to my colleagues: Алексей Паленков and Jerald Heiss.
English subtitles added.
