Country
Ukraine

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
MRP - Ministerstvo Radioelektronnoi Promyshlennosti
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a flight where the crew was supposed to test various equipments, probably military ones. According to officials, in poor weather conditions, the airplane deviated from the departure climb course, collided with trees and crashed on a hilly terrain. The wreckage was found in snow about a week later. All nine occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the extreme secret character of the mission, no information were published about the circumstances and the causes of the accident. All information related to this tragedy were immediately classified by the Soviet Authorities.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ban Mai

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
RDPL-34037
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hanoi - Vientiane
MSN:
2506
YOM:
1974
Location:
Ban Mai
Vientiane Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Hanoi to Vientiane, carrying 62 girl students and six accompanents coming back from Soviet Union. On approach to Vientiane-Wattay Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to thunderstorm activity. The captain completed several circuits in the area but was unable to locate the airport. As the airplane was short of fuel, the crew decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located in Ban Mai, about 10 km west of Wattay Airport. All 74 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Bajkit: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1979 at 0056 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26569
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Krasnoyarsk - Yeniseysk - Baykit
MSN:
67303809
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
SU37293
Location:
Baykit
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
4524
Aircraft flight cycles:
2148
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from Krasnoyarsk to Bajkit with an intermediate stop in Yeniseysk, carrying six passengers, six crew members and a load of 3,700 kg of oranges. On final approach by night, the captain realized his altitude was insufficient and decided to initiate a go-around. He increased power on both engines but followed a wrong path with an insufficient rate of climb. At a speed of 232 km/h, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed 310 meters further on the slope of a wooded hill (410 meters high) located about 1,700 meters past the end of runway 06. A crew member and three passengers were killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The captain failed to follow the published procedures related to a go-around maneuver with a too low rate of climb and a wrong path. A poor flight preparation was considered as a contributing factor as well as the fact that the captain was flying to Bajkit for the first time.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Chersky: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1978 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26547
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chersky - Zyrianka
MSN:
57302810
YOM:
1975
Location:
Chersky
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Chersky to Zyrianka, carrying two loadmasters, five crew members and a load consisting of eight wooden copper coils. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 200 km/h, the pilot-in-command started the rotation (the rotation speed was calculated at 215 km/h). The airplane rotated and continued to climb until the altitude of 150 meters when it entered stall conditions. It turn to the right and crashed in a huge explosion on an hotel located near the airport. The aircraft and the hotel were totally destroyed by a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the stall and subsequent loss of control during initial climb was caused by the cargo shifting. Investigations revealed that the wooden copper coils were not properly installed and secured in the cabin but only fixed with the onboard winch cable. At liftoff, the wooden copper coils moved to the rear of the cabin, causing the CofG to be out of the enveloppe and the aircraft to be uncontrollable. Loadmasters failed to install and secure the wooden copper coils according to the published procedures and failed to use appropriate equipment such as nets or belts. The copilot exercised an unsatisfactory supervision of the loading while the captain decided to takeoff despite the load was improperly secured.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ust-Kuyga

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26536
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2003
YOM:
1974
Location:
Ust-Kuyga
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment, the pilot-in-command abruptly reduced the engine power, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and to struck the runway surface. The aircraft then rolled for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An excessive reduction of the engine power on final caused the aircraft to lose altitude and to roughly struck the runway surface. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Insufficient approach speed,
- Confusion by the flying crew,
- Incorrect compensation of the wind component,
- Limited runway length.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Cuangar: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1977 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cuangar
Cuando Cubango
Country:
Angola
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed in flames. All 30 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by UNITA rebels.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Khandyga

Date & Time: May 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26567
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
57303801
YOM:
1975
Location:
Khandyga
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Khandyga Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances six km short of runway threshold. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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