Investigation Summary
The flight was operating in difficult meteorological conditions with low cloud cover and poor visibility. A key operational failure was the crew's decision to continue the flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite encountering thick fog and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) that prevented ground visibility. While the official Soviet cause was vaguely cited as 'inadequate preparation and management,' later investigations revealed a critical technical error. The day before the flight, the aircraft's altimeters had been replaced with units taken from an Ilyushin Il-14. These instruments were not properly calibrated for the An-24, creating a systematic error where the altimeter displayed an altitude 60 to 70 meters higher than the actual flight level. Combined with a possible incorrect barometric pressure setting, the crew believed they were at a safe height of 150 meters when they were actually flying at approximately 42 to 85 meters above sea level, leading them directly into the treetops on a coastal cliff.
Final Conclusions
The crash was caused by controlled flight into terrain resulting from erroneous altimeter readings. Contributing factors included the unauthorized or untested installation of Il-14 altimeters into the An-24, poor weather conditions (fog and low clouds), and insufficient air traffic control assistance. The lack of a formal criminal investigation and the immediate classification of the event by the Soviet Ministry of Defense prevented public accountability, though approximately 40 military officials were dismissed in the aftermath.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
A classified plane crash in the USSR. The fall of the AN-24 ... — A documentary covering the 1972 Svetlogorsk disaster, where a military An-24 fell on a kindergarten, and the subsequent Soviet cover-up.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Viloriy Gutnik
Systems & Failure Modes
Pressure Altimeter
Relocated from an Il-14 without calibration, causing a 60-70 meter display error.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash killed 23 children and 4 adults at the kindergarten.
- 02The aircraft was carrying 6 crew members and 2 passengers (weather researchers).
- 03The altimeter indicated 150 meters at the moment of impact, while the actual altitude was roughly 42-85 meters.
- 04The Soviet government never opened a criminal investigation into the disaster.
- 05The site of the kindergarten was turned into a small square with a flower bed within 24 hours of the crash.
- 06A memorial chapel was finally built on the site in 1994.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Military Dismissals
The Soviet Ministry of Defense dismissed approximately 40 military officials following an internal investigation into the flight's preparation.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Allegations of Pilot Intoxication
Reference ↗Rumors persisted that the crew was drunk, with some later claims by retired officers suggesting alcohol was found in five crew members, though other pathology reports denied this.