Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

EY-87995

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province

Schedule:

Khorugh - Dushanbe

MSN:

9 54 19 44

YOM:

1975

Location:

Khorugh

Country:

Tajikistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During takeoff roll at Khorugh Airport, at Vr speed, the crew started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond and did not lift off. It continued at high speed, overran, collided with a concrete wall located 150 metres past the runway end and eventually crashed in the Pyanj River. Four passengers were rescued while 82 other occupants were killed, most of them woman, children and soldiers.

Probable cause:

The accident occurred during the Tajik Civil War. It was determined that soldiers forced the crew to embark as many passengers as possible while the Yak-40 is certified fox max 32 passengers. At the time of the accident were 81 passengers on board. As the total weight of the aircraft was 3 tons above MTOW, it was impossible to take off in such conditions.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sơn Trung: 30 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1992 at 0712 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VN-A449

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saigon - Nha Trang

MSN:

9 63 18 48

YOM:

1976

Flight number:

VN474

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4668

Aircraft flight cycles:

3686

Circumstances:

While descending to Nha Trang Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On approach, the aircraft deviated from the W13 airway by six km when it struck trees, lost height and crashed on the slope of a mountain located 350 metres, about 33 km southwest of Nha Trang. The wreckage was found eight days later at an altitude of 970 metres. A passenger was seriously injured while 30 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor due to the presence of typhoon 'Forest' approaching the area.

Probable cause:

Following negligences and wrong interpretation of instrument settings, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed W13 airway by 6 km until it impacted the ground.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Neryungri

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Yakutavia

Registration:

CCCP-87411

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

MSN:

9 42 03 34

YOM:

1974

Location:

Neryungri

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Neryungri Airport, while climbing, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°3 that caught fire. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing and completed a turn and a 'normal' landing. All 28 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure and fire on engine n°3 for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Türkmenabat

Date & Time: May 13, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-88235

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashgabat - Türkmenabat

MSN:

9 64 04 51

YOM:

1976

Flight number:

TUA308

Location:

Türkmenabat

Country:

Turkmenistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Türkmenabat Airport following an uneventful flight from Ashgabat, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and limited visibility. On short final, the crew lost visual contact with the runway for few seconds, causing the aircraft to deviate from the approach path to the right. The crew decided to continue when, at a height of 12 metres, the right wing struck a mast. The aircraft caught fire, turned to the right and crashed at a speed of 220 km/h, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found one km from the runway end. All 38 occupants evacuated safely, among them five passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The approach was completed in very bad weather conditions and a first approach was abandoned few minutes prior to the accident. During the second attempt to land, the crew lost visual contact with the runway for few seconds, causing the aircraft to deviate to the right of the approach path. The crew decided to continue the approach in such conditions rather than initiating a new go-around procedure.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sisian

Date & Time: May 9, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87532

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stepanakert – Erevan

MSN:

9 52 16 41

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Stepanakert on a charter flight to Yerevan, carrying 30 refugees and three crew members. While in cruising altitude over the Kalbajar district in south Armenia, the aircraft was attacked by the pilot of an Azerbaijani Sukhoi Su-25. Two engines failed and smoke spread in the cabin. The crew initiated an emergency descent and divert to Sisian Airport. The aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few hundred metres then veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 33 occupants evacuated safely, except both pilots who were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Attacked in flight by the pilot of an Azerbaijani Sukhoi Su-25.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Moscow

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87553

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9 21 04 21

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the three engine aircraft landed hard on its nose, causing the nose gear to collapse. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1991.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Velsk

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87521

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9 52 03 41

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the takeoff procedure in white conditions and blizzard. The pilot-in-command completed the rotation prematurely while the aircraft's speed was insufficient. At liftoff, the right wing stalled and struck the snow on the right side of the runway. The aircraft then continued for few dozen metres, struck a tree and an embankment before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Fire was quickly extinguished but the aircraft was written off. Eight passengers and three crew members were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew initiated rotation prematurely while the aircraft's speed was insufficient. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 535 kilos above MTOW. Poor weather conditions were also a contributing factor.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Makhachkala: 51 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1991 at 1350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87526

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Elista - Makhachkala

MSN:

9 52 08 41

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

S-519

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Makhachkala was started in poor weather conditions. While over mountainous terrain, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when, at an altitude of 550 metres and at a speed of 366 km/h, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Kukurtbash (980 metres high) located 23 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 51 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was following a wrong approach path to Makhachkala-Uytash Airport following inaccurate ATC instructions. ATC in charge transmitted wrong instructions to the crew, causing the aircraft to be off course and below the minimum prescribed altitude. The crew was unable to see and avoid the mountain due to low clouds in the area and was unaware of his exact position. It was also reported that the crew allowed 47 passengers (39 adults and 8 children) to embark in Elista while 32 seats were available on board. This caused the aircraft to take off with a total weight of 260 kilos above MTOW.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40K in Dikson

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87394

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: