Country
Russia
code

Irkutsk oblast

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Irkoutsk: 33 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1963 at 0506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42492
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beijing– Irkotsk – Omsk – Moscow
MSN:
0 2 16 05
YOM:
26
Flight number:
SU012
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Aircraft flight hours:
2497
Aircraft flight cycles:
1138
Circumstances:
On final approach to Irkustk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a visibility below minima. The airplane lost height and struck approach lights located 2,450 meters short of runway 29 threshold. It then struck a hill, flew on a distance of 570 meters and eventually crashed in flames 1,880 meters short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and two passengers were rescued while 33 other occupants were killed, among them the spouse of the Ambassador of Albania in China.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the sudden loss of altitude on final approach was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of water in the Pitot tubes, which resulted in the modification of several instrument settings and caused the aircraft to adopt an approach configuration not in accordance with the published procedures. It was reported that weather information related to Irkutsk Airport and transmitted to the crew were inaccurate and failed to reflect the truth. Also, the person in charge of the weather forecast bulletin at departure airport failed to double check the information and transmitted inaccurate data. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions at Irkutsk airport were poor and the visibility was below minima. Despite this situation, ATC at Irkutsk-Magan Airport cleared the crew to land and failed to instruct him to divert to another airport.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A in Ust-Orda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1960 at 2114 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42452
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Omsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
9 66 017 01
YOM:
10
Flight number:
SU005
Location:
Ust-Orda
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
61
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1071
Circumstances:
On the leg from Omsk to Irkutsk, at a distance of 160 km from the destination, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at Irkutsk Airport and was then diverted to Ust-Orda Airport. At this time, weather at Ust-Orda was as follow: cloud base at 250 meters, snow falls and a visibility of 3 km. On approach by night, the nose gear light was unserviceable so the captain decided to make a go around. For unknown reason, this procedure was delayed and he completed a low pass over the runway for about two km before making a turn to the left at a height of 10-15 meters when the airplane struck power cables. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on a hilly terrain near the airport. 46 passengers were uninjured while 19 occupants were injured. Three crew members were killed, the navigator, the radio operator and the mechanic. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The decision of the captain to perform a go around was comprehensive but the very low pass (10-15 meters) above the runway was unacceptable. Investigations were able to determine that weather conditions at Irkutsk Airport were not as bad and the decision of the ATC to divert the crew to Ust-Orda was not necessary. Also, it was the first time that the pilot was flying to Ust-Orda and he did not have any knowledge about the environment at this airport, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Irkutsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1959 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01426
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mama – Kirensk – Irkoutsk
MSN:
30 257
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
V-8
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9169
Circumstances:
On approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions. Despite the visibility decreased below minima, the captain continued the approach when the left wing tip struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane nosed down, struck the ground, bounced and eventually crashed 30 meters farther. The captain and the mechanic were killed while both other crew members were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Two days later, on December 1st, the copilot died from his injuries and a day later, on December 2nd, the radio operator died as well.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the visibility suddenly dropped due to fog in the approach path and the runway threshold. Despite the situation, the captain decided to continue the approach in below-minima conditions instead of diverting to another suitable airport. Weather forecast were inaccurate and did not reflect reality, which remains a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 at Belaya AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Belaya – Vitebsk
MSN:
8 9 006 06
YOM:
1958
Location:
Belaya AFB
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
107
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Irkutsk-2 to Vitebsk with an intermediate stop at Belaya AFB located 85 km northwest of Irkutsk. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All ten occupants, four engineers and six crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by the failure of an aileron or a in-flight fire was not ruled out.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Irkoutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1956 at 1442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5658
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Sverdlovsk – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
1460 009 42
YOM:
2
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
29
Circumstances:
After being manufactured at Frunze, the aircraft was on a delivery flight from Moscow to Irkutsk with intermediate stops at Sverdlovsk and Novosibirsk. On final approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the airplane hit the ground 1,315 meters short of runway, bounced, struck a fence and eventually came to rest in a prairie located 550 meters short of runway threshold. The copilot was killed while four other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The flight engineer misinterpreted some instruments settings he failed to transmit to the flying crew in due time. Lack of coordination between pilots was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Irkoutsk: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beijing– Irkutsk – Tashkent – Nicosia
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Irkutsk-Intl Airport for unknown reason, killing all 17 occupants.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Irkoutsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1953 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1727
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Irkutsk – Chita – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
9 301 32 17
YOM:
31
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3429
Circumstances:
About a minute after a night takeoff from Irkutsk-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-120 meters, the captain sent a brief message saying a plane was facing him. He made an immediate sharp turn to the right when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed 2,5 km from the runway end and 500 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Four crew members (the captain, the copilot, the flight mechanic and the radio operator) were killed while all 24 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that no aircraft was present in the vicinity of the climbing Ilyushin II-12 at the time of the accident. The pilot-in-command misinterpreted the light on the top of the inner marker located 4 km from the runway threshold for an incoming aircraft and decided to make in immediate action to avoid any collision.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T in Mama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1951 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4467
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kirensk – Ust-Kut – Mama – Kirensk
MSN:
4002
YOM:
28
Location:
Mama
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2667
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight to Mama, carrying a load of fish. While descending to a height of 1,500 meters, the crew received the permission to complete the final approach visually when the airplane hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 18 km north of the airport. All eight crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal with low clouds, snow falls, turbulences and icing conditions.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the visibility was insufficient at the time of the accident and the pilot in command descended too low without any visual contact with the obstacles. Ground assistance on part of the ATC was not efficient, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Iskra: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1951 at 0442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4790
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Yakutsk
MSN:
184 341 04
YOM:
0
Flight number:
SU451
Location:
Irkutsk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
1026
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Irkutsk Airport at 0431LT in poor weather conditions with an horizontal visibility of 2 km in snow falls, low cloud base, turbulences and icing conditions. After its departure, the airplane failed to follow the prescribed flight path and few minutes later, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to feather the propeller and to return to the airport. Approximately 10 to 15 seconds later, while losing altitude, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed inverted in a wooded area located 4 km north of the village of Iskra, about 20 km east of Irkutsk. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area 10 days later, on April 4. A passenger was found seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the third cylinder of the right engine failed in flight, causing the engine to catch fire. With one engine inoperative and flying in icing conditions and turbulences, the aircraft was unable to maintain height, hit trees and crashed. The board determined that the following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of visibility due to poor weather,
- icing conditions and turbulences,
- poor maintenance of the right engine regarding the 50 hours periodic inspection procedure,
- poor quality of the third cylinder,
- improper adjustment of the exhaust valve,
- the pilot-in-command voluntarily modified the crew prior to take-off and requested the presence of a copilot who was not licensed to fly a Lisunov LI-2 but only a Polikarpov PO-2,
- because of his inexperience on this type of aircraft, the copilot was unable to assist the captain in a complexe flight situation,
- the crew was tired and intoxicated after consuming alcohols prior to takeoff.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Marga: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1949 at 1135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1714
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
8 301 28 11
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU005
Location:
Marga
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Moscow to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops in Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk with a load consisting of 2,204 kilos of various goods and 115 kilos of mail. En route to Irkutsk, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the left engine caught fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire but the captain decided to divert to Nizhneudinsk Airport for a safe landing. As the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude, the passengers jettisoned the mail bags. While at a height of some 40-60 meters with only the right engine running, the aircraft hit the tops of several larches, stalled and crashed in flames in a grain field located 5 km southeast of the Sheberta rail station, northeast of Marga. One crew member was injured while 13 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The fire on the left engine was the consequence of the failure of the piston #12 that broke in flight as a result of the defect of the upper part of the rod. Following this, the bolt broke and the fuel leaked into the engine and ignited while in contact with high temperature elements. It was reported that the piston failure was due to a bore default during the construction. Also, experts blamed the crew who did not take the decision to land immediately rather than trying to reach Nizhneudinsk Airport that was situated 60 kilometers from their position.
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