Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Nizhnevartovsk: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1969 at 1727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47772
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tyumen – Surgut – Nizhnevartovsk
MSN:
79901405
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU227
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
52
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
2756
Aircraft flight cycles:
2298
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Nizhnevartovsk Airport by night and marginal weather conditions. Due to erroneous calculations, the aircraft was not properly aligned on the approach path and the captain decided to make a go-around. Six minutes later, he initiated a second approach. On short final, ATC asked the pilot if he has the runway in sight. As the answer was positive, the crew was cleared to land. Less than a minute later, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,092 meters short of runway threshold. 32 occupants were injured while 24 others were killed, among them the copilot and a flight attendant.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the propellers went inadvertently into reverse when the crew activated the engine de-icing system. It was later discovered during investigations that there was a conception error on this type of aircraft between the de-icing systems and the thrust reversal systems that could activate simultaneously. Nevertheless, when control was lost, the flaps were deployed in an angle of 17° instead of 38° as prescribed, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Preobrazhenka: 55 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1969 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46248
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lougansk-Dniepropetrovsk-Vinnitsa-Lvov
MSN:
77303206
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU826N
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
51
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
55
Aircraft flight hours:
4557
Aircraft flight cycles:
4789
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Dnepropetrovsk Airport at 1547LT and its crew was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 5,100 meters. At 1558LT, the crew reported at 3,600 meters still climbing. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the propeller blade n°2 separated from the left engine and struck the fuselage, severing elevator and aileron control cables. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive until it struck the ground in a 45-50° nose down attitude and at a estimated speed of 500-550 km/h. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 55 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight caused by the detachment of the propeller blade n°2 on left engine that severed control cables. The loss of the propeller blade was the consequence of fatigue fracture (corrosion).

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Zawoja: 53 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1969 at 1608 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SP-LTF
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Warsaw - Kraków
MSN:
67302406
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
LO165
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
53
Circumstances:
While descending to Kraków-Balice Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a limited visibility due to heavy snow falls. At an altitude of 1,200 meters, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located on Mt Polica, in the Babia Gora Mountain Range, near Zawoja. The wreckage was found few hours later about 150 meters below the summit and all 53 occupants have been killed. Due to poor visibility, the crew was unable to locate the mountain and at the time of the accident, the airplane was slightly off course.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24 in Almaty: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1969 at 0637 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46751
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alma-Ata - Karaganda
MSN:
47300905
YOM:
1963
Flight number:
SU2305
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9607
Aircraft flight cycles:
7577
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Alma-Ata Airport, while climbing to a height of 80 meters, the airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in flames onto houses located in the village of Krasnoye Polye, near the airport. Few houses were destroyed as well as the aircraft. A crew member and three passengers were killed while 27 other occupants were injured. Fortunately, there were no casualties on the ground.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine lost power during initial climb when the gear were retracted. The loss of speed caused the aircraft to stall.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Wrocław

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1969 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SP-LTE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Warsaw - Wrocław
MSN:
67302405
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
LO149
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
3000
Aircraft flight hours:
3018
Circumstances:
Flight LO149 was a scheduled domestic flight from Warsaw to Wrocław. It took off from Warsaw at 1635 hours local time carrying a crew of 4 and 44 passengers. The flight was uneventful and about 10 minutes before reaching the Wrocław non-directional radio beacon, it was cleared by the Area Control Centre to descend from its cruising altitude of 4 500 m to 1 500 m and instructed to contact the Wrocław Control Zone. The Control Zone cleared the flight to 1 500 m, requested it to report when passing over the NDB - ETA 1722 hours - and gave it the latest weather information for Wrocław as being: cloud base 150 m, visibility 1600 m in light fog, wind 3000 to 310013 to 4 mfsec, QFE 765.5 mm. Hg. The altimeters were set at the correct setting and after having reported over the NDB the flight, which was descending towards the outer locator, was warned by the Control Zone that the visibility had deteriorated to 800 m, i.e. 300 m below the minimum authorized for landing at Wrocław Airport. However, the pilot continued to descend in the direction of the outer locator. At an altitude of 90 m the pilot-in-command ordered a reduction of engine power and flew over the outer locator at an altitude of 50 to 60 m instead of the prescribed 225 m. He reported over the outer locator and shortly thereafter was advised that the visibility had further deteriorated to 400 m and that fog had appeared. In spite of this information the pilot continued his approach and informed the Control Zone that he would try to land. After passing the outer locator the rate of descent of the aircraft was probably established at approximately 3 to 5 m/sec and the last altitude reported by the flight engineer was 30 m. Seven hundred metres beyond the outer locator the aircraft was levelled qff at a height of 10 m and both wings cut the tops of some trees. As a result of the impact part of the right wing (3 m long) and of its aileron were torn off from the aircraft and the aircraft went into a 400 bank to the right. Approximately 145 m from the point of contact with the trees, the right wing came into contact with the ground and left a trace 41 m long. The aircraft was then momentarily straightened up but the right wing dropped again, contacted the ground again and was further damaged. At approximately 350 m from the point of initial contact with the trees, the aircraft, still banked to the right, struck two 30 000 volt power lines breaking all six electric cables with its fuselage and left wing. It then flew over 5 railway tracks and struck with its right wing the five overhead electric traction cables as well as 25 wires of the railway signalling equipment located 60 cm above the ground. All cables and wires were broken and the right wing of the aircraft became entangled in the wires. This reduced the speed of the aircraft and straightened it up, but the angle strut of the right landing gear was damaged and the right landing gear folded backwards. After having travelled a short distance nearly level, with the left landing gear rolling on the ground, the nose gear and right propeller became detached and the aircraft turned slightly to the right, 141 m farther on the left landing gear struck a road embankment 70 cm high and immediately thereafter the aircraft struck a steel electric light pole on the road and bent it to the ground. The aircraft then made a 180° turn and came to a stop on the road at a point located 3.5 km before the threshold of the runway and nearly on the extended centre line of the runway. The accident occurred at 1730 hours.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the decision of the pilot-in-command to carry out an approach in weather conditions below the minimum limits prescribed for Wrocław Airport and his non-observance of the prescribed altitude over the outer radio beacon while performing the approach procedure. The accident was the pilot-in-command's fault as well as the co pilot's since the latter did not prevent the pilot-in-command from violating the flight rules. The following findings were reported:
- The pilot-in-command carried out an approach procedure in weather conditions below the authorized minima for Wroclaw Airport,
- The pilot-in-command did not observe the prescribed minimum height limits for an approach procedure using two radio beacons at Wroclaw Airport,
- The copilot did not report to the pilot-in-command that the aircraft went below the prescribed minimum height limits during the approach.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Mary

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46552
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mary – Ashgabat
MSN:
87304506
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mary Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 meters, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for a safe landing. While descending to Mary, the crew realize he could not reach the airport so he attempted a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B into the Mediterranean Sea: 40 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1968 at 1221 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AOL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo - Damascus
MSN:
67302806
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Cairo to Damascus, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were conducted and several debris were found about 180 km south of the Cyprus coast. None of 40 occupants was found alive and the main wreckage was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Olyokminsk: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1968 at 1828 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47733
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Olyokminsk – Lensk – Ust-Kut – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk
MSN:
69901001
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
SU1668
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Aircraft flight hours:
1543
Aircraft flight cycles:
1543
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Olyokminsk Airport at 1810LT bound for Lensk. Eighteen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in a near vertical attitude (80°) in a dense wooded area located 92 km west of Olyokminsk. The aircraft partially disintegrated in the air and debris scattered on a large area. There was no fire on board prior to final impact. None of the 45 occupants survived the accident.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. There were no technical failure on engine or equipment prior to the accident nor fire on board nor any in-flight collision with any object.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Voronezh

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46201
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
67302610
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Voronezh by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew was informed about clouds down to 80 meters above ground and an horizontal visibility of 1,280 meters which was below the minima of 1,500 meters. Despite this, ATC cleared the crew to continue the descent. Once the aircraft reached the altitude of 100 meters on descent, the crew was cleared to land when the airplane dropped below the glide path, touched down 300 metres behind the inner marker, bounced and crashed into trees 150 metres further on. While the aircraft was destroyed, there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Approach completed below minima weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Liepaja: 43 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1967 at 0836 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46215
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Riga - Liepaja
MSN:
67302909
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
SU051
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Aircraft flight hours:
1934
Circumstances:
On final approach to Liepaja Airport, while at an altitude of 300 meters at a speed of 300 km/h, the crew was unable to locate the runway nor the approach lights. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go-around and increased engine power when the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left to an angle of 40°. Due to high drag, it lost height then struck the snow covered ground 1,800 meters past the outer marker, bounced and struck a telegraphic pole that torn off three meters of the left wing. Out of control, it continued for 1,410 meters before crashing in flames in an open field. Eight occupants survived while 43 others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine for undetermined reason, maybe due the failure of a turbine component.