Polikarpov Po-2 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was supposed to convoy the airplane (delivery flight) from Pyatigorsk to Krasnodar with an intermediate stop in Vorochilovsk (now Stavropol). Prior to departure from Vorochilovsk, the crew estimated the weather conditions as suitable and took off at 1540LT for Krasnodar. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was too low. Despite the situation, the pilot decided to continue in clouds when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a wooded area located south of the city. The pilot was killed and the flight engineer was injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the pilot to continue the flight in below minima weather conditions and his failure to continue the flight rather than to return to the departure airport. Poor flight preparation was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov S-2 in Volosta-Pyatnitsa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-K406

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

17129

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near the village of Volosta-Pyatnitsa. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Shapki: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-K281

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13095

YOM:

1938

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Circumstances:

The airplane was completing an ambulance flight, carrying two wounded soldiers and one pilot. En route, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Shapki. The pilot was killed and both passengers were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 near Ust-Orda: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1941 at 1405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-P574

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ust-Orda - Ust-Orda

MSN:

0574

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Ust-Orda airport on a local training exercise. For unknown reasons, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located 10 km north of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Polikarpov S-2 in Sevan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1941 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-K398

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sevan - Yerevan

MSN:

17121

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Region:

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Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

205

Circumstances:

After dropping an engineer at Sevan Airfield, the pilot took off on a return leg to Yerevan. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of 25-35 metres, the airplane entered a sharp turn to the left then nosed down and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, died 4 hours later from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to follow the flight instructions and published procedures.