On 27 November 1996, a Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 crashed near Abakan Airport, Russia, killing all 23 people onboard.

[2] The aircraft involved in the accident was a Russian Air Force-operated Ilyushin Il-76MD, designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and manufactured by the Tashkent Aviation Production Association in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (modern-day Uzbekistan).

[3] The Il-76 involved, registered as RA-78804, was initially made in 1989, flying for Soviet Air Forces until in 1991.

The following crew members in the flight were: The following crew members were not in the cockpit: Carrying an official payload of 30 tonnes (66,000 lb), the aircraft underwent refueling at Abakan before attempting takeoff.

However, during the climb-out phase, the plane ascended with an unusually shallow climb angle, deviating from standard procedures.