Antonov AN-12

The approach to Vitebsk was initiated in icing conditions when the crew lost control of the airplane that lost height, struck power cables and crashed in flames in an open field. Five passengers survived while 26 other occupants were killed. The airplane was enroute from Pskov to Vitebsk, carrying officers taking part to an exercise.

Report from the crew: was PIC of AN-12 , BL740 on that fateful day of 7 January 1974. My cojo was Baldy, Nav Ambre and Prasad Rao (AEB examiner) & among passengers were Wingco "Doc Lu" of AEB, one F/L Raghavan of Logs & some more passengers. We were taking off from Chennai-Meenambhakam Airport in the morning. After waiting for takeoff clearance which got delayed due some R/T problem, we finally started rolling. All parameters were normal. Ambre started calling speed. As he called out speed 160, I was changing over from nose steer to control column. At that very moment, the aircraft swung viciously to the right and left, the R/W at 45° angle. It took me 2 or 3 seconds to realize that its an engine failure. I immediately chopped all 4 throttles back and saw a really big ditch right ahead runway 07 before I could take any other action, the aircraft had come to a halt. With the impact, it broke in two. Main entrance door had flung open, there was no fire or casualty. I took my time to come out after ensuring all switches off. After we all had come out, we saw Ambre trying to come out from copilots side window and fell on the ground and broke his arm. Our Gunner W/O Nagarajan was the other crew member who was injured but safe. Co I was headed by Wingco "Chotu" Desores and Chotu S/L Rajgopalan. During the proceedings, they estimated that even after chopping throttles, the aircraft wouldn't have taken more than 5 seconds before crashing. Some passengers had gone to nearby Army M I room along with crew to get first aid treatment. Ultimately, I was blamed for "Not using sufficient brake and for carrying unauthorized passengers." This incident brought an end to my AN-12 flying. As I understood later that S/L (later Air Marshal) Victor Puri, then my Flt Cdr in 44 Sqn tried to simulate N°4 engine auto feather (which was the cause of accident) with an experienced crew and could not control the aircraft as it was going to leave the runway and had to open power to regain control. Due to anti clockwise rotation of propeller blades, the n°4 engine is the most critical engine in an Antonov AN-12.
Source: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Aircraft/BL-740

The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Magadan, carrying two passengers, eight crew members and a load of 12 tons of vegetables. The approach to Magadan-Sokol Airport was started by night and marginal weather conditions (rain falls). While descending to an altitude of 570 meters, the captain decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane struck the slope of a snow covered mountain and crashed 13,7 km short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

The crew was completing a night training mission somewhere in Russia. On final approach, the airplane descended below the glide, struck power cables and crashed in flames. All six crew members were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances on Graham Bell Island while performing a cargo flight. Nobody was hurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned in situ.

For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest into deep snow. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route from Russia to Egypt, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain somewhere in Egypt, killing all seven crew members. The accident occurred somewhere in 1972 as the exact date remains unknown.

En route from Moscow-Domodedovo to Amderma, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions in Amderma and was cleared to divert to Vorkuta Airport. While on a night approach with a visibility limited to 850 meters, the captain was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and crashed into a ravine located about 140 meters short of runway threshold. All eight occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.

The four engine airplane was completing a local training flight at Tula Airport with six crew members on board. On approach in marginal weather conditions, the airplane collided with a second Antonov AN-12BP of the Soviet Air Force (Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP). Inbound from Sestsha Airbase located in Bryansk, the second aircraft was carrying 14 passengers and a crew of six. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located few km from the airport. All 27 occupants in both aircraft were killed.

The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Sestsha Airbase located in Bryansk, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of six. On approach to Tula Airport in poor weather conditions, the airplane collided with a second Antonov AN-12BP of the Soviet Air Force (Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP). With six crew members on board, the second aircraft was completing a local training flight in Tula. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located few km from the airport. All 27 occupants in both aircraft were killed.