Country
Russia

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Orlivka: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1944 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4161
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chisinau – Kiev – Moscow
MSN:
184 91 06
YOM:
28
Location:
Orlivka
Vinnytsia Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
En route from Chisinau to Kiev, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to thick fog. In such conditions, and apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, the captain decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the slope of a ravine and crashed in a field 460 meters further on. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong decision on part of the crew to reduce his altitude in thick fog (flying below minima weather conditions). At the time of the accident, visibility was estimated less than 300 meters and the aircraft hit the ground at full power. Investigators considered that the total flying time of the captain during the last three months was insufficient. Finally, information transmitted to the crew regarding weather conditions were inadequate and did not reflect the truth.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 off Baku: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4111
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Baku - Baku
MSN:
184 145 09
YOM:
1944
Location:
Baku
Absheron
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left Baku-Bina Airport at 0150LT for a two hours and a half training mission in the region of Baku. While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 meters, the aircraft caught fire, went out of control and plunged into the Caspian Sea off Baku. Some debris were found on a beach north of the capital city two days later but no trace of the wreckage nor the seven crew member was found.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Stanislav: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1944 at 2310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stanislav - Stanislav
MSN:
184 95 06
YOM:
15
Location:
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
791
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Stanislav (now Ivano-Frankivsk) Airport in the afternoon on a supply mission to soldiers based behind the German lines. Three paratroopers and 200 kilos of various goods were parachuted and then the crew returned to Stanislav. The aircraft mistakenly landed in Lvov and took off immediately for Stanislav. Upon arrival, due the night and fog, the crew was unable to locate the runway and the captain abandoned the approach four times. On the fifth attempt, he left the area and continued to the northwest at a height of 50 meters when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 12 km from the airport. Rescuers arrived on the scene the following morning and four occupants were evacuated while four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the decision of the crew to leave Lvov was inappropriate and the captain's decision to attempt five approaches was thoughtless.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T in the Mt Gerlachovský: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
184 148 08
Location:
Mt Gerlachovský
Prešov Region
Country:
Slovakia
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of some 2,580 meters, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Gerlachovský (2,655 meters high) located in the Tatras mountain range. All 24 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Plessetsk: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1848703
YOM:
1944
Location:
Plessetsk
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while making a test flight near the Obozerski Airport, in the region of Plessetsk, some 200 km south of Arkhangelsk. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Novoyur'ivka: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4064
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
184 109 01
YOM:
1943
Location:
Novoyur'ivka
Mykolaiv Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a dropping mission to soldiers of the 3rd Ukrainian Front when the aircraft was shot down by the pilots of four German Air Force Messerschmitt Bf.109. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in the outskirt of Novoyur'ivka, killing all eight occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down by four German fighters.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Nikopol: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4076
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melitopol - Melitopol
Location:
Nikopol
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left Melitopol on a supply mission to the soldiers of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Crashed in unknown circumstances between Nikopol and Krivoi Rog. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Gorki: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1944 at 1202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4068
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gorki – Kuybyshev
MSN:
184 114 05
YOM:
15
Location:
Gorki
Nizhny Novgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
107
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 40 meters, the aircraft stalled, banked right and crashed in a huge explosion 200 meters from the boundary fence. All six occupants were killed. The aircraft was performing a cargo flight to Kuybyshev carrying a load of various goods consisting of studs, cord and gloves.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and did not follow the pre-departure checklist. Thus, the crew did not realize that the elevator trim tabs were not set to neutral prior to takeoff and after rotation, were positioned to a positive angle of 12°, causing the aircraft to nose up and stall.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Moscow-Vnukovo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1943 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4032
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
184 63 05
YOM:
0
Location:
Moscow-Vnukovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
132
Circumstances:
After completing several maneuvers in Moscow-Vnukovo on a training program, the crew started a new approach. On final, both engines flamed out. The pilot in command pulled the control column back so the aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 800 meters from the boundary fence. Three crew members were killed while four others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Both engines lost power due a faulty conception in the left fuel tank. It was reported that the admission of the fuel pipe was 41 mm above the bottom of the tank. In such circumstances, air was sucked into the fuel line when the fuel reserve passed under the admission mouth. Investigation revealed that 580 liters of fuel remained in an additional tank but the crew failed to switch. Finally, the reaction of the pilot in command was inadequate.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashla: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1943 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4029
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Kuybychev
MSN:
184 62 01
YOM:
3
Location:
Tashla
Samara oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
839
Circumstances:
After his departure from Sverdlovsk Airport, while on a cargo flight to Kuybyshev, the inexperienced crew made several navigational errors and the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by 68 km to the northwest. As the ETA was reached, the crew thought he was at Kuybyshev and started the approach when the left engine failed. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Tashla and was destroyed. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, there were about 106 kilos of fuel remaining in the tanks (about 20 minutes of flight) and investigations were unable to determine why the left engine was no running at impact.
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