Country

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Ryabtsevo

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3055
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22 633
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was en route from Belarus to Smolensk, carrying one passenger, five crew members and a load of brochures that should be distributed in Smolensk. Approaching Smolensk from the southeast, the airplane was mistakenly shot down by the Soviet Flak (ground artillery). The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a rough terrain and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by the Soviet Flak.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Moscow

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1493
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zaporozhie - Moscow
MSN:
22 483
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1872
Circumstances:
After landing at Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, the crew was taxiing to the apron with two engines off. At a relative high speed, the pilot-in-command saw a starter ahead prohibiting further taxiing. So the pilot reduced the throttle and attempted to turn to the right when the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
The direct cause of the accident is the lateral load on the undercarriage while taxiing in a curved trajectory and braking with an excessive speed. Contributing to the undercarriage and spar failure is the weakening of the wheel strength by faulty rivets and aging of the structural material.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 near Bekobod: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1941 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1496
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tashkent – Fergana
MSN:
22 114
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3407
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Tashkent to Fergana, carrying a load of three tons of jam, clothes, leather goods and wooden boot-block for a total weight of 3,339 kilos. While cruising at an altitude between 200 and 250 metres, the airplane encountered heavy winds and turbulence, descended to a height of 90 metres then became uncontrollable and crashed 6 km north of Bekobod. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the wind was gusting to 72 km/h at the time of the accident and the crew was aware of this. Prior to departure, during the flight preparation, the fleet captain confirmed that wind gusting to 72 km/h was ok for this kind of aircraft but told the captain and his crew to fly above the minimum altitude of 1,500 metres. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight at an insufficient altitude of 200-250 metres. Gusty winds hit the front of the airplane that went out of control and crashed.

Crash of a Tupolev TB-3 near Lake Murtosalkä

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22198
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The soviet transport Tupolev TB-3 was shot down by the pilot of a Swedish Air Force Gloster Gladiator. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing near the Lake Murtosalkä, between the cities of Kemijärvi and Kuusamo. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all eight occupants survived, among them captain Sergei T. Karepov. Due to resistance to Finnish Ground Forces, five crew members were later killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Swedish Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Mezen

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2524
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Naryan-Mar
MSN:
22 154
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Arkhangelsk on a cargo flight to Naryan-Mar with an intermediate stop in Mezen, carrying a load consisting of cans of food for a total weight of 2,5 tons. Approaching the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls reducing visibility to 800 metres. Unable to establish a radio contact with the destination airport station, the captain asked the copilot to check the radio system. Doing so, the captain was distracted and lost visual references with the horizon. The airplane descended to the ground and crashed in a snow covered field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach after the pilot got distracted and lost his visual cues while discussing with the copilot concerning radio problems. The crew decided to continue the descent to the destination airport despite the airport radio station was unserviceable.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-6 in Bukhta Teplits

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N210
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bukhta Tikhaya - Bukhta Teplits
MSN:
22 752
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Bukhta Tikhaya to Buhkta Teplits (N81°47.5') on Rudolph island (Franz-Joseph-Land Archipelago), carrying three passengers and four crew members. On approach, the crew encountered ground fog and elected to make a go around procedure. Insufficient crew resource management and late decision resulted in the aircraft entering the fog layer. when the ski on the left main landing gear impacted the snow, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The airplane crashed and came to rest on ice. Two crew and one passenger were seriously injured while two other crew and two other passengers were slightly injured. The wreckage was still on site in 2006.
Probable cause:
Pilot error and poor CRM on final approach, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.