On 2 September 1970, the Tu-124 operating this flight crashed after a loss of control at cruise altitude, 42 minutes after takeoff from Rostov-on-Don Airport.

At 15:31 the crew contacted ATC announcing in a calm tone their ground speed was 852 km/h (460 kn; 529 mph) and that they expected to pass over Kremenchug at 15:41.

[1][2] Construction of the Tu-124 involved, registration CCCP-45012, was completed at production factory 135 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 30 September 1961 and it was transferred to the civil air fleet.

[1] Investigators looked into the possibility that the aircraft collided in flight with an unmanned military vehicle or a weather balloon but no evidence surfaced.

[1][2] The investigators were able to conclude that full deflection of the rudder and left aileron trim would have significant effects on control of the aircraft at cruising speed but the chain of events leading to the accident was never determined.