Aeroflot Flight 068


Aeroflot Flight 068 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight operated by Aeroflot from Khabarovsk to Saint Petersburg with intermediate stops at Novosibirsk, then Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg. On 16 March 1961, following an engine failure shortly after takeoff from Koltsovo Airport, the Tupolev Tu-104B operating this flight made an emergency landing on a frozen lake. Two crew members and three passengers died, along with two people on the ground, however 46 of those on board survived.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Tupolev Tu-104B.

Investigation

Metal fatigue cracks caused a blade on the second stage of the compressor failed after takeoff, resulting in the failure of the right engine and severe vibrations. The left engine's inadvertent shut down was also cited as a contributing factor.