Vologda Aviation Enterprise Flight 9651

Vologda Aviation Enterprise Flight 9651 was a regularly scheduled charter flight from Moscow, Russia to Kyiv, Ukraine. On 9 March 2000, the aircraft operating the flight crashed after takeoff from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. All nine occupants died. Among the passengers was Artem Borovik, a famous journalist and president of the Sovershenno Sekretno holding company, who was flying with two of his company aides, as well as Ziya Bazhayev, founder and president of the Alliance Oil Company.

Accident

At 8:42 AM local time, the plane began its takeoff roll. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 49 feet above the ground, the aircraft entered a stall, This was accompanied by an uncontrollable bank to the left. The aircraft then collided with the ground 1,200 m from the takeoff point and 63 m to the left of the runway centerline. The impact split the fuselage in two, and the debris scattered across the airfield burst into flames. All nine occupants were killed.

Ivan Zashcherinsky, an employee at Sheremetyevo Airport witnessed the aircraft during its final minutes stating:I was walking to work behind the parking lots, perpendicular to the spot where the plane crashed. The Yak-40 caught my attention because it was taking off steeply. A red and yellow flame was erupting from the left engine exhaust. The plane was climbing. Two seconds later, it suddenly began to bank smoothly to the left. It seemed to be making a left turn toward the terminal building. The plane hit the ground with its left wing, then its nose. Then there was a kerosene explosion, but practically nothing burned; only black clouds of smoke hung over the wreckage for a long time, as there was practically no wind.