Investigation Summary
The flight encountered mechanical trouble immediately after takeoff from Tallinn when the nose landing gear jammed in a partially retracted position. Technicians on the ground reportedly found a bolt on the runway that had detached from the aircraft. Because Tallinn was shrouded in fog, the crew was directed to Leningrad, where they could attempt a landing on a dirt strip at Pulkovo Airport to minimize fire risk. The aircraft involved (manufacturing number 2350701) was only a year old. To reach a safe landing weight, the Tu-124 began circling Leningrad at approximately 450 to 500 meters for over two hours. During these circuits, the crew attempted to force the nose gear down by punching a hole in the fuselage floor and using a cloakroom pole to push the gear into a locked position. While they successfully locked the gear, the distraction and drag led to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft glided over the Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge and the under-construction Alexander Nevsky Bridge before ditching. An 1898-built steam tugboat witnessed the landing; its captain broke the aircraft's cockpit window with a boat hook to secure a towline to the control yoke, towing the floating aircraft to the riverbank where passengers evacuated through a roof hatch.
Final Conclusions
The accident was attributed to fuel exhaustion resulting from a combination of mechanical failure (jammed landing gear), instrument failure (faulty fuel gauges), and crew distraction. While the crew was initially blamed for the fuel mismanagement, the public acclaim for the successful ditching in a densely populated urban area led the Soviet authorities to drop charges and instead recognize the crew's skill in preventing a catastrophe. The aircraft was written off and the fuselage was later shipped to a flight engineering college at Kirzhach, southeast of Moscow, where it served as an instructional airframe for Soviet mechanics.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Nose Landing Gear
The gear jammed in a mid-position after a bolt detached during takeoff, preventing retraction and requiring a high-risk landing.
Fuel Gauges
The cockpit gauges were faulty, indicating approximately one ton of fuel remained when the tanks were actually empty.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was only one year old at the time of the accident.
- 02All 52 people on board survived the ditching without serious injuries.
- 03The ditching occurred in a river only 300 meters wide in the center of a major city.
- 04The tugboat captain initially believed he was witnessing a test of a new hydroplane.
- 05The crew used a pole from the aircraft's cloakroom to try and fix the landing gear.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Crew Commendation and Policy Shift
Following the incident, the Soviet authorities initially considered disciplinary action against the crew for fuel mismanagement. However, due to the high-profile nature of the successful ditching and public support, the crew was eventually commended for their skill. Captain Mostovoy was reportedly awarded the Order of the Red Star, though official records of the era remain thin.