Investigation Summary
On New Year's Eve 1970, the crew of Flight 3012 was operating a scheduled domestic service to Yerevan. Due to a hurried departure sequence, the flight deck crew omitted the critical step of selecting flaps for takeoff. The aircraft carried 86 occupants, consisting of 78 passengers and 8 crew members. Without the lift provided by flaps, the Ilyushin Il-18V struggled to maintain stable flight after lifting off. The aircraft entered an unusually steep climb and began oscillating, rolling from side to side while maintaining a low altitude between 30 and 50 meters. Investigation into the wreckage revealed that the control locks and ignition systems were also improperly configured. While the aircraft successfully lifted off, the partial engagement or failure to fully release these systems, combined with the lack of flaps, severely restricted the crew's ability to stabilize the aircraft once airborne. As the aircraft reached a critical angle of attack, it banked sharply to the right and lost altitude. The tail struck a snow-covered field first, followed by a nose-first impact. The airframe slid approximately 210 meters across the field before coming to a rest. The crash occurred approximately 2,500 meters into the flight path. Despite the severity of the impact and the initial reports of 88 deaths circulated by Western media, 80 people survived the accident, though 26 sustained injuries.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the crew's failure to configure the aircraft for takeoff by extending the flaps, a result of a hurried departure. Crucially, the investigation found that the control locks and ignition were also improperly handled; while not fully preventing takeoff, their state contributed to the loss of control and inability to recover from the steep climb. Secondary factors included reduced thrust because the anti-ice system was not activated, further degrading the aircraft's performance during the critical initial climb phase.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Flaps
High-lift devices on the trailing edge of the wings; their absence during takeoff significantly increased the stall speed and reduced the climb performance of the Il-18.
Ivchenko AI-20 Engines
The four turboprop engines powering the aircraft; investigators noted reduced thrust may have occurred due to the anti-ice system being inactive.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was approximately nine years old at the time of the crash.
- 02The aircraft's construction number (MSN) was 182004505.
- 03Soviet media did not report the accident; news only reached the West via Aeroflot personnel talking to foreign airline staff in Moscow.
- 04Early reports from UPI and other Western agencies incorrectly stated that all 88 people on board had died.
- 05The official fatality count was 6, including the pilot and copilot.
- 06The aircraft was equipped with four Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop engines.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Crew Resource Management and Checklist Discipline
Following the investigation, emphasis was placed on the strict adherence to pre-takeoff checklists, specifically ensuring flap settings and the full disengagement of control locks, even during hurried departures or high-pressure schedules.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Discrepancy in Fatality Counts
Reference ↗Initial reports by Western media outlets like UPI and Dutch newspapers (Trouw, De Tijd) claimed between 88 and 90 fatalities, while official Soviet records maintained only 6 people died. This was attributed to the Soviet policy of secrecy regarding domestic accidents.