On 3 September 1962 the Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104 lost control after the airframe started vibrating, resulting in the plane rolling and yawing several times at an altitude of 4,500 meters before crashing.

The aircraft was produced by the Omsk factory and was released to the Khabarovsk Far East Civil Aviation Directorate division of Aeroflot on 27 September 1958.

There was a 60-meter (200 ft) stratified cloud at Khabarovsk airport and visibility reached 20 kilometres (12 mi; 11 nmi), which were acceptable for the flight.

At an altitude of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) the aircraft ceased communications with Khabarovsk air traffic control, proceeding along the designated route.

At 21:39 local time the pilot switched air traffic controllers, and after receiving permission started increasing the altitude to 8,000 metres (26,000 ft).

The pilots expressed dismay at the sharp roll of the wings; captain Marsakov twice reported to air traffic control, "throw it away!"