Polikarpov Po-2 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Uralsk for a local training flight. After completing two slight turns at a height of about 250 metres, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed near the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of an aircraft that was not airworthy. After being partially dismantled four months ago, the control column was not properly fixed and the crew decided to make a local training flight. The CofA was not valid anymore since it expired last April 1st. The loss of control occurred at an altitude where the crew was unable to expect recovery.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Tsaryshanka: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1938 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2056

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tsaryshanka - Tsaryshanka

MSN:

8109

YOM:

1936

Location:

Tsaryshanka

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Country:

Ukraine

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

866

Aircraft flight cycles:

1555

Circumstances:

Two Polikarpov SP were dispatched from Dnepropetrovsk to Tsaryshanka to perform 3-5 minutes demo flight to local farmers. Two local police officers boarded the airplane and after takeoff, the pilot climbed to an altitude of 350-400 metres when he initiated hazardous manoeuvres. Following several sharp turns, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. A passenger was killed and both other occupants were injured. The pilot died two days later from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot attempted hazardous manoeuvres with passengers on board, in violation of the prescribed procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Lake Onega: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1779

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pudozh - Petrozavodsk

MSN:

7615

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2040

Aircraft flight cycles:

1537

Circumstances:

Due to poor weather conditions in Pudozh on April 4, the pilot was forced to pass the overnight in Pudozh and postponed his departure to Petrozavodsk to April 5. He departed Pudozh in the morning with two passengers. After passing over Shala Pristan, the airplane entered over Lake Onega when weather conditions deteriorated with heavy snow falls. Unable to fix his position, the pilot decided to return when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on the iced Lake Onega. The wreckage was found four hours later. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following:
- The pilot decided to takeoff from Pudozh without any weather briefing;
- Poor flight preparation and assistance;
- After entering Lake Onega, weather conditions worsened and the pilot continued rather than returning to Pudozh;
- The pilot lost his bearings in poor visibility and lost control of the airplane;
- Overconfidence on part of the pilot.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Irkutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1937 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T190

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Irkustk

MSN:

9819

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

124

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Irkutsk on a local solo training flight. Another similar airplane registered CCCP-T118 was also completing a local training flight at the same time. Both pilots were assigned to a training zone. For unknown reasons, the pilot of the CCCP-T118 changed his heading and departed his training zone when the collision occurred. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near the airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on the part of the pilot of CCCP-T118 who changed his heading and flew out of his designated area, violating instructions and published procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Irkutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1937 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T118

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Irkustk

MSN:

8680

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

255

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Irkutsk on a local solo training flight. Another similar airplane registered CCCP-T190 was also completing a local training flight at the same time. Both pilots were assigned to a training zone. For unknown reasons, the pilot of the CCCP-T118 changed his heading and departed his training zone when the collision occurred. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near the airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on the part of the pilot of CCCP-T118 who changed his heading and flew out of his designated area, violating instructions and published procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Vladivostok: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1937 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2095

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Iman – Vladivostok

MSN:

8148

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

339

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a mail flight from Iman to Vladivostok. Approaching the destination from the north, he encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. Flying low in limited visibility, the airplane impacted two tall trees and crashed in a wooded area located 25-30 km north of Vladivostok Airport. The wreckage was found two days later and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The following factors were identified:
- Sudden deterioration of the weather conditions with low visibility due to heavy snow falls;
- The decision of the pilot to continue at low height in such conditions;
- The pilot did not receive any weather bulletin prior to the accident;
- Lack of discipline and overconfidence on part of the pilot.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Mariupol: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1936

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2030

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

8083

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

203

Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a special mission to deliver spare parts for combine harvester to local farmers based in Ukraine. Several landings were made in the areas of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia then the pilot landed in an open field owned by the State Farm of 'Azov' located about 60 km from Mariupol. The following night, the pilot took off with full tanks, two passengers and a load of spare parts. After a course of 60 metres on rugged terrain, the airplane lifted off. At a height of about 50-60 metres, the pilot made a left turn to pass over the house where he slept the preceding night when the airplane rolled to the left, struck the house and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot and a passenger were killed while the second passenger was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The following contributing factors were identified:
- The decision of the pilot to land and takeoff from an unsuitable (rugged) terrain;
- The decision of the pilot to make a sharp turn at low height;
- There were two unauthorized passengers on board;
- The fuel tanks were full.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Novgorod: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1936 at 1425 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1781

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Novgorod – Leningrad

MSN:

7617

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Novgorod Airport at 1410LT on a flight to Leningrad, carrying one pilot and one passenger, a fire inspector. At the time of departure, weather conditions were as follow: horizontal visibility 1,500 - 2,000 metres, vertical visibility 150 - 170 metres and wind 2-3 m/s. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and according to the engine noise, it is understood that the airplane was not flying in the direction of Leningrad but Kresttsy instead. Nevertheless, the pilot apparently attempted to return to the airport when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed one km from the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in clouds. His decision to takeoff in clouds and without received a weather bulletin prior to departure are considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Russia

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L78

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Russia during the year 1935. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Troitskoye: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L971

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Khabarovsk – Troitskoye – Komsomolsk-on-Amur

MSN:

7128

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Khabarovsk on a mail flight to Komsomolsk-on-Amur with an intermediate stop in Troitskoye. On the second leg, he encountered unfavorable winds and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a swampy area. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On 13 April 1938, the wreckage was found by hunters some 52 km from the Khungari River estuary.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot encountered unfavorable winds and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swampy area. The pilot apparently survived the accident but it is possible that he was killed by hunters.

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