Antonov AN-26 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Sukhumi to Krasnovodsk with intermediate stops in Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don, carrying 12 passengers (pilots and engineers), four crew members and a load of one ton of mandarins and Christmas trees. Upon departure from Rostov-on-Don Airport, weather conditions were poor due to the night and fog, reducing the vertical visibility to 60 meters and the horizontal visibility to 720 meters. Rotation was made after a course of 750 meters at a speed of 233 km/h. While climbing to a height of 170 meters, at a speed of 320 km/h, the captain requested the flaps to be raised when the aircraft lost height and initiated a descent with a positive acceleration of 1,5 G and with a rate of 5-7 meters per second. In a nose-down attitude and at a speed of 405 km/h, the airplane struck pine trees and crashed in a wooded area located 5 km from the airport, bursting into flames. The accident occurred one minute and 40 seconds after takeoff. The burned wreckage was found 1,180 meters to the left of the approach path. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident was 943 kilos above MTOW while the CofG was within limits. Investigations revealed serious shortcomings in the organization and preparation of the flight as well as the training of the various crew members.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Bibala: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

D2-TAB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

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Following an uneventful flight at FL140, the crew initiated the descent to Lubango Airport in poor visibility due to heavy rain falls. At an altitude of 7,400 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Bibala. The wreckage was found about 22 km northwest of Lubango Airport, some 20 meters below the summit. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the crew started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude. Poor visibility due to heavy rain falls was a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Anapa: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Anapa - Kacha

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Following a night takeoff from Anapa Airport, the crew retracted flaps prematurely. This caused the aircraft to lose height and to strike trees located 1,250 meters past the runway end and 150 meters to the right of its extended centerline. The airplane suffered damaged to its left engine and stabilizer but the crew was able to continue to climb. Following a short traffic pattern, the crew was returning to the airport when the airplane stalled and crashed in shallow water near Vityazevo, about 6 km west of Anapa Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. The accident occurred six minutes and 464 second after liftoff.

Probable cause:

Premature retraction of flaps after takeoff.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Sa Kaeo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

26264

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

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The airplane was engaged in an intelligence surveillance mission over Thailand when it was forced down by two Royal Thai Air Force F-5E Tiger’s near Sa Keao province, about 200 km east of Bangkok. A passenger was killed while 12 other occupants survived.

Probable cause:

Forced down by the pilots of two F-5W Tiger's.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Yeniseysk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1981 at 1759 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-26505

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

67 01

YOM:

1978

Flight number:

SU22237

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Aircraft flight hours:

4686

Aircraft flight cycles:

4237

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a cargo flight to Yeniseysk, carrying six crew members, a passenger in charge of the cargo and a load of 1,042 kilos of sausages, 1,200 kilos of meat, 550 kilos of haring and 2,152 kilos of oranges. The approach was initiated by night and poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. On final, approach lights were turned on when the crew saw trees. The captain decided to gain height and increased engine power when the airplane struck trees located on the top of a hill, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 105 meters to the right of the inner marker and 1,140 meters from the runway threshold. Two crew members were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the navigator, the radio operator and the mechanic were intoxicated at the time of the accident. The flight engineer and the navigator failed to follow the approach procedures, probably due to the influence of alcohol. The navigator failed to maintain the calculated rate of descent and altitude, failed to report about what has been achieved in terms of visibility CDF earth landmarks. The mechanic failed to report the airspeed and the altitude in reference of the radio altimeter until 60 meters above the ground. Poor crew coordination and the fact that the captain failed to initiate a go-around procedure were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Angola: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

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Shot down by enemy fire and crashed in flames somewhere in South Angola, near the Namibian border. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a surface to air missile.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 near Menongue

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

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En route, the airplane was hit by a surface-to-air SAM-7 missile fired by UNITA rebels. The crew was able to make an emergency landing in a field. Four crew members were rescued while two others were taken prisoners and later released as part of a prisoner exchange program.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 missile.