Aeroflot Flight 909 was a scheduled domestic flight overnight on 5/6 March 1976 flown by Ilyushin Il-18E registered CCCP-74508. The aircraft lost control following an electrical failure and crashed near Voronezh in the Soviet Union. All 111 on board were killed.[1]
The aircraft was on a domestic passenger flight between Moscow and Yerevan at flight level 260 (about 26,000 feet (7,900 m)) when an electrical failure disabled some of the aircraft instruments including the compass and the two main gyros. It was 00:58 in the dark and according to the official version without a natural horizon due to clouds the crew became confused on the orientation of the aircraft and control was lost and the aircraft crashed killing all on board.[1] However, a number of experts affirm that it is difficult to believe that such a professional crew could lose control in these circumstances. [citation needed] Some reports show that seven were killed on the ground.[2]
The aircraft was a four-engined Ilyushin Il-18E turboprop built in 1966.[1]
CAP 479 - World Airline Accident Summary - Volume 2: 1976 onwards. London: Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). 1974. ISBN 0-86039-344-5.