Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Lensk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1968 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11349
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ust-Kut - Mirny
MSN:
4 018 05
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Ust-Kut Airport on a cargo flight to Mirny, carrying a load of 18 tons of cement. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew was informed that a landing at Mirny Airport was impossible due to technical problems and the captain decided, without referring to his operations, to divert to Lensk Airport where the weather conditions were considered as poor. At that time, the sky was overcast with clouds down to 600 meters, an horizontal visibility of 2,500 meters with rain and snow. The flight was continued at an altitude of 8,000 meters then the crew was cleared to descent to 3,000 meters and to start the approach to Lensk. On final, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tall trees (20 meters high) in a flat attitude, continued the descent and crashed 420 meters further in a wooded area. The wreckage was found 15,6 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a premature descent and a controlled flight into terrain for undetermined reason. Nevertheless, the assumption that an engine may have failed on approach was not ruled out. At the time of the accident, Lensk Airport was not equipped with an ILS system or any kind of ground guidance assistance system.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP near Rohtang Pass: 102 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1968 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BL534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chandigarh - Leh
MSN:
02 4 003
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
98
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
102
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Chandigarh on a flight to Leh, carrying 98 passengers, soldiers and family members. While descending to Leh, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snowstorm and the captain made a 180 turn to return to Chandigarh as a landing at Leh Airport was impossible. Few minutes later, while cruising in zero visibility at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a snow covered mountain located near the Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh. As the airplane failed to return to Chandigarh, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few weeks later as no trace of the aircraft no the 102 occupants was found. Some debris were found in August 2003 at an altitude of 5,400 meters in the Dhaka Glacier and three bodies in August 2007.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Yakutsk

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11015
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6 3 440 06
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair after suffering a hard landing. No casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 near Kirzhach: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew (four testers and five crew members) was engaged in a series of test flights on behalf of the Ministry of Aeronautical Industry (MAP – Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti – Minaviaprom). While cruising at a relative low height at a speed of 400 km/h, the crew opened the cargo hatch when the lock of the fastening system fitting the rail jammed. The 'cargo' got stuck in the cargo hold and the four parachutes opened. This caused severe damages to the fuselage and the separation of the tail. Out of control, the airplane plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion at the edge of a wooded area located one km north of the village. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TP-2 in Blagoveshchensk

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04366
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1 9 015 10
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful geophysical mission, the aircraft was returning to Blagoveshchensk Airport when the left main gear collapsed on landing. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all six crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Gear collapsed on landing.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Salekhard: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11007
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salekhard – Tarko-Sale
MSN:
6 3 439 09
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
973
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Salekhard to Tarko-Sale, carrying six crew members and a load of 11 tons of cement. Rotation was completed after a course of 1,250 meters. Immediately following takeoff, the airplane entered a steep nose-high attitude (angle of attack of 20°) then banked right and crashed one minute later in a field located 1,800 meters past the runway end. A crew member was rescued while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to prepare the flight properly and to follow the pre-takeoff checklist. Takeoff maneuver was completed with the flaps still retracted, causing the airplane to stalled after rotation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Mexico City: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1967 at 0516 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T827
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Havana - Mexico City
MSN:
4 015 04
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
10830
Captain / Total hours on type:
701.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
15240
Copilot / Total hours on type:
153
Aircraft flight hours:
993
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying out a non-scheduled international cargo flight from Rancho Boyeros Airport, Havana, Cuba, to Mexico City International Airport, Mexico. It departed Rancho Boyeros Airport at approximately 0100 hours Mexico time and its estimated time of arrival at Mexico was 0450 hours. At 0400 hours, when reaching the BX intersection, the aircraft contacted the Mexico Control Centre and requested authorization to enter the control area. This was granted and the latest weather information for Mexico Airport was transmitted to the aircraft but no acknowledgement was received. Subsequent transmissions from the aircraft on 118.7 MHz were unintelligible and it was instructed to change to 120.1 MHz. The c clearance and weather information were again passed to the aircraft on that frequency. The aircraft reported over Nautla and Tulanciago and was informed that visibility at Mexico City was 14 miles because of fog. It was then instructed to descend from 18 000 to 12 000 ft and change to approach frequency 119.7 MHz. It was also advised that the runway would be 23L and that the wind was calm. At 0458 hours the aircraft reported over Tepexpan and was instructed to descend to 11 000 ft and report over the VOR where it could initiate a standard descent. At 0500 hours the aircraft reported over the VOR leaving 11 000 ft and was instructed to change to 118.1 MHz, the control tower frequency. This was the last contact with the aircraft. It did not establish contact on the tower frequency. The aircraft crashed in flames 18 km from runway threshold and 400 meters to the right of its extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was pilot error in that:
- He executed an IFR descent procedure other than that which was established for Mexico City International Airport; and
- He discontinued IFR flight during the descent outside the area protected for VFR flight at that time of day and in the reported weather conditions, below the absolute minima established for descent.
The following findings were reported:
- The aircraft struck the ground nose first in an almost 24° nose down attitude and with a left bank of approximately 25°,
- No evidence of fire or explosion prior to impact was found,
- Fire occurred when the left wing broke and fuel came in contact with the exhaust of No. 1 and No. 2 engines,
- There was no evidence of the aircraft being out of control during the procedure turn and descent,
- The aircraft was not in the landing configuration,
- Communications between the aircraft and the Control Centre were normal up to fixing on the Mexico City VOR,
- The aircraft never contacted the control Tower on the frequency indicated (118.1 MHz),
- Although the weather conditions were not good at the time of the accident, the crew apparently discontinued instrument flight and tried to make a visual approach.
- The aircraft did not follow the procedure established for instrument descent at Mexico City International Airport and at the moment of impact it was effecting an approach descent and attempting to intercept QDM 228° for final approach to runway 23 left.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Novosibirsk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1967 at 0625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04343
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Sverdlovsk – Novosibirsk – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
8 9 006 05
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
SU5003
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
4376
Aircraft flight cycles:
1698
Circumstances:
Less than two minutes after takeoff from Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport runway 07, while climbing by night at an altitude of 200 meters, the airplane entered clouds when the crew informed ATC about an in-flight fire. The captain was cleared to return for an emergency landing when control was lost 24 seconds later. The airplane entered a nose-down attitude and struck the ground at a speed of 335 km/h in an open field located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris were scattered on a distance of 552 meters. All six occupants were killed. The airplane was carrying various prefabricated goods for a total weight of 11,278 kilos.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fire broke out in the cargo compartment during the takeoff procedure but investigations were unable to establish the exact origin of the fire.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Tyumen

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9 9 012 07
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a military cargo flight and the aircraft was carrying a load of metallic pipes intended for a pipeline construction. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in a ditch located 50 meters past the runway end. All six crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that prior to takeoff at Tyumen Airport, the crew was instructed to hold for few minutes as an Antonov AN-2 was attempting to land. During this period of time, the crew activated the parking brake and then failed to release it when he was cleared for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was unable to rotate because the parking brake was not released and its speed was insufficient, two factors that were not noticed by the crew in due time.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 near Ulan-Ude: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1965 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11337
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tashkent – Fergana – Novosibirsk – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
2 4 005 03
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
4030
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Tashkent on a cargo flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with intermediate stops in Fergana, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, carrying a load of 10,475 kilos of grapes. En route from Krasnoyarsk to Irkutsk, the crew was informed about poor weather at destination and decided to divert to Ulan Ude although that airport was not suitable for such type of aircraft. While approaching from the north in marginal weather conditions, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain located 32 km north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain resulting from a crew error who mistakenly imputed wrong QNH setting for the approach. Lack of visibility and poor flight preparation were considered as contributing factors.