Country
Russia

Crash of a Polikarpov AP near Magnitogorsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1935 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A525
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5939
YOM:
1934
Location:
Magnitogorsk
Chelyabinsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
249
Aircraft flight cycles:
868
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a crop spraying flight in the region of Magnitogorsk. Following a sowing mission over a surface of 130 hectares and after completing 58 landings, the pilot was instructed to stop the mission as the goal was to sow 100 hectares and the wind was rising. Nevertheless, he continued and initiated a 270° turn at a height of 15 metres when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 30 km from Magnitogorsk. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a loss of speed during the last turn completed at a too low altitude. A poor flight organization and a lack of discipline on part of the pilot were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Basargechar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-M7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yerevan - Basargechar
MSN:
5987
YOM:
1934
Location:
Vardenis
Gegharkunik
Country:
Armenia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
278
Aircraft flight cycles:
289
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Yerevan, the airplane was approaching the destination at an altitude of 1,000 metres when the pilot initiated a straight-in approach, which is against the published procedures that request a circuit vertical to the airfield. Doing so, the pilot deviated from the approach path. Once at a height of 50 metres, he attempted to go around when the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed one km from the airport. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following:
- The pilot failed to follow the approach procedures,
- Engine failure on approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Yazovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1934 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Pavlovsk
MSN:
4170
YOM:
1933
Location:
Yazovo
Altai Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
386
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Novosibirsk at 1200LT on a flight to Pavlovsk with one pilot and one passenger (a member of the government) on board. In violation of the article 167, the pilot continued the flight at an insufficient altitude. Once he reached the village of Yazovo, he spotted a group of people and completed a low pass (around 3 meters above the ground). After passing the village, he realized he was facing a hill and made a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who decided to perform the flight below the minimum safe altitude. While facing a hill, he initiated a sharp turn during which the airplane stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Aktyubinsk

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1934 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1015
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5716
YOM:
1934
Location:
Aktyubinsk
Aktobe
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aktyubinsk Airport on a mail flight, carrying one pilot and 125 kg of mail. Ten minutes after takeoff, the pilot decided to return because he thought there was a loss of hydraulic pressure. Following a wrong approach configuration, he landed with a tailwind component when, upon landing, the airplane crashed and collided with a parked Polikarpov SP registered CCCP-L1018. The pilot escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot adopted wrong piloting techniques,
- Wrong approach calculation and configuration,
- Non compliance with published procedures,
- The pilot landed with a tailwind component,
- The person in charge of the airport failed to change the 'T' according to the wind component.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP near Karsakpay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1934 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Karsakpay – Dzhusaly
MSN:
4159
YOM:
1933
Location:
Karsakpay
Karagandy
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
166
Aircraft flight cycles:
252
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Karsakpay at 1330LT on a flight to Dzhusaly, carrying two passengers, one pilot and 39 kg of cargo. The pilot failed to prepare the flight properly, did not get any information about the weather en route and did not have any suitable charts. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Karsakpay and initiated a turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 30 km from Karsakpay. All three occupants were injured, the pilot seriously. He died from his injuries seven days later.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a stall during a turn completed at low altitude due to poor piloting techniques with an overloaded aircraft and through difficult weather conditions.
The following factors were identified:
- The pilot started the flight without any information about the flight conditions en route,
- The pilot did not have appropriate maps (charts),
- The pilot was intoxicated the day before and the day of the accident.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Polyany: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1933 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A198
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Polyany - Polyany
MSN:
3436
YOM:
1932
Location:
Polyany
Penza oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
164
Aircraft flight cycles:
920
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a spraying mission in the area of Polyany, carrying one passenger and one pilot. On approach, the pilot completed several turns and the last one was relatively sharp with a 50° bank when the airplane stalled and crashed. The passenger was injured and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Kazan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1933 at 1821 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-S227
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kazan - Kazan
MSN:
4359
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kazan
Republic of Tatarstan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
25
Aircraft flight cycles:
122
Circumstances:
The crew departed Kazan Airport on a local flight. On short final, at a height of about 30-35 metres, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Tupolev ANT-9 registered CCCP-L150 that was completing a local test flight. It appears that on final, the Polikarpov was flying above the ANT-9 and cut his track before the collision occurred. The Polikarpov dove into the ground and was destroyed. Both pilots were seriously injured and died two hours later. The Tupolev continued for few seconds before it crashed near the runway, coming to rest broken in two. All 11 occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a poor organization between the crew and the Kazan Airport Authorities as no proper procedures were in place at the time of the accident for such test flight. The pilot of the Polikarpov failed to bring attention to potential traffic and did not realize the presence of the second aircraft. On his side, the pilot of the ANT-9 was unable to see the Polikarpov flying above him due to the upper wings position.
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