Supply

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Jorhat - Taksing - Jorhat

MSN:

12821

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

17868

Circumstances:

The crew left Jorhat on a supply mission to Taksing, Arunachal Pradesh. Following a navigation error, the aircraft went into a narrow valley and the captain, not familiarized with the region, made a turn to leave the area when the airplane stalled and crashed in a mountainous terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to an error of navigation which caused the pilot to enter a wrong valley. During an attempt to turn back in a restricted area, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The fact that this was the pilot's first flight to this dropping zone, and he was not familiar with the terrain, contributed to the accident.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Cape Hallett

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

17163

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

MSN:

12519

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right main gear on landing.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Kovrik River: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1959 at 1225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-54795

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Uchur - Uchur

MSN:

184 339 08

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9608

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Uchur in the morning on a supply mission to a geological camp located in the region of the Kovrik River. The crew successfully performed a first drop and continued along the Kovrik Valley in an attempt to make a second low pass. While cruising at low height, the captain realized he was too low and elected to return, made a sharp turn to the left when control was lost. From a height of about 20-25 meters, the aircraft bank left, stalled and crashed 1,900 meters from the drop zone. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of poor pilot techniques and wrong decisions on part of the captain who failed to recognize that he was flying too low and at an insufficient speed while performing a sharp turn to the left in a mountainous area. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Too low altitude to expect recovery when stall occurred,
- The crew continued the flight at an insufficient height in a mountainous area,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Severny Island

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-04209

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

MSN:

184 308 08

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on a 750 meters long icy runway, while at a speed of 70-80 km/h, the left ski struck an irregularity on the ground. The airplane bounced, climbed to a height of 1,5-2 meters then stalled and crashed 300 meters farther. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who attempted to takeoff at an insufficient speed. The captain should abandon the takeoff procedure instead to continue in such conditions. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The braking performance was reduced due to the high salting of the ground,
- The 'runway' surface was uneven.

Crash of a De Havilland UC-1A Otter in Marble Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1959

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Registration:

144673

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Marble Point - Marble Point

MSN:

163

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in the 'Deep Freeze IV' mission in Antarctica. After takeoff, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left at low height, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Lt Harvey E. Gardner,
Lt Lawrence J. Gardner.

Crash of a De Havilland UC-1 Otter in Ross Sea

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1958

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Registration:

142427

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered a structural failure while taking off from Ross Island on a supply mission for the operation 'Deep Freeze IV'. The crew was able to fly to McMurdo Sound were the airplane was declared as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II near Cape Hallett: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1958 at 0903 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

52-1017

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Christchurch – Cape Hallett – McMurdo Sound – Christchurch

MSN:

43926

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9514

Captain / Total hours on type:

1146.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1096

Copilot / Total hours on type:

244

Circumstances:

The crew departed Christchurch on a supply mission to the bases of Cape Hallett and McMurdo Sound, carrying seven passengers, a crew of six and a load of 8,5 tons of wood. While approaching Cape Hallett at the altitude of 7,000 feet in a 'VMC on top' mode, the aircraft was already off course by 29 km. The pilot started the descent to 6,500 feet, completed a first turn to the right at 345° then a second turn to the left at 270° before reaching the Cape Hallett Bay. Shortly later, the crew reduced his altitude to 2,400 feet, went through the cloud layer at a speed of 135 knots and flaps were extended when the airplane struck the ground and disintegrated. The wreckage was spotted few hours later 37 km from the Cape Hallett camp and six wounded people were evacuated while seven others were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of several navigational error on part of the crew who was unaware of his exact position when starting the final descent to Cape Hallett camp. Poor visibility due to clouds remains a contributory factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Igarka: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1958 at 1107 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N588

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1 22 473 10

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Igarka, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 at Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N502

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors: