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Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 in Russia

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3752
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22179
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In clouds, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport and initiated a turn to the left when the left wing hit the ground. The airplane cartwheeled and crashed. All four occupants were injured and transferred in Moscow for treatment.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 in Chernokorova: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3751
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tyumen - Sverdlovsk
MSN:
22172
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
618
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tyumen Airport at 0805LT on a special flight to Sverdlovsk, carrying three crew members and seven passengers on their way to a political party committee meeting. A little more than an hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 100 metres in good weather conditions, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that rolled to the left then entered a dive and crashed 1,5 km from the village of Chernokorova, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight following the failure of the left engine for undetermined reasons.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot took the decision to continue the flight at an unsafe altitude of 100 metres above ground,
- The crew failed to proceed with a pre takeoff check of the airplane,
- No technical check of the airplane was made since last October 4,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 160 kg above MTOW.

Crashed of a Tupolev ANT-7 in Sadovniki

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1941 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3764
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
22348
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1105
Aircraft flight cycles:
2192
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a ferry flight from Moscow-Myachkovo Airport to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, carrying two crew members. It took off from Myachkovo Airport around 0930LT. Some 15 minutes into the flight, weather conditions deteriorated and the pilot got confused due the limited visibility cause by rain falls. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a muddy field located near Sadovniki. Upon touchdown, the airplane lost its undercarriage and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
The decision of the pilot to attempt an immediate landing in an unsuitable terrain rather than returning to Myachkovo Airport. The lack of experience of the pilot in poor weather conditions remains a contributory factor as this created a confusion to him.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-7 off Sofiysk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2962
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Nizhnetambovskoye – Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinski
MSN:
22286
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1182
Circumstances:
The floatplane departed Khabarovsk on a flight to Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinski with an intermediate stop in Nizhnetambovskoye, carrying three passengers, four crew members and a load of 460 kilos of mail. About an hour after departure from Nizhnetambovskoye, while in cruising altitude, the pilot noted a leak on the right engine, between cylinders n°7 and 8. Shortly later, the right engine stopped and the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing on the Amur River. At the time of the accident, the water was glassy and upon landing some 700 metres offshore, the airplane crashed, overturned and sank. All four crew members were rescued by fishermen while all three passengers drowned.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- The right engine failed in flight, maybe after the mechanic turned off the ignition system,
- The speed of the airplane upon landing was excessive,
- The glassy water of the Amur River,
- The pilot was confused due the failure of the engine,
- The inappropriate position of the stabilizers.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 off Chokurdakh

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-X258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chokurdakh – Egekhaya
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On June 23, the airplane departed Nagaev Bay in Magadan on a flight to Chokurdakh where one passenger and various equipment were loaded to supply workers in a mine located near Egekhaya. While taking off from the Protoka Ularovskaya River, the left float collided with a trunk floating on water and separated. Upon impact, the left wing was sheared off and the airplane crashed. All five occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a boat. The airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a collision with a trunk floating on water. Failure of the crew and the local authorities to make sure that the takeoff area was free of any obstacles.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 off Churan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1941 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1478
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Churan - Yakutsk
MSN:
3166
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The floatplane was departing Churan on a service to Irkutsk, carrying seven passengers and a crew of four. Shortly after takeoff from the hydrobase of Churan, while climbing to a height of 10-12 metres, the floatplane entered a high angle of attack, pitched up then the left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed into the Lena River. While all four crew members were able to evacuate the cockpit and to swim to shore, all seven occupants drowned after the airplane sank.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to position correctly the stabilizers prior to takeoff and his failure to reject the takeoff procedure while the aircraft was unstable.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 2M-17 in Minsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1941 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-T435
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minsk - Minsk
MSN:
22123
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total hours on type:
13.00
Aircraft flight hours:
432
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a local training flight at Minsk Airport. Following several circuits in the vicinity of the airfield, he initiated the approach. Not properly aligned with the runway, the pilot decided to make a go around. At a height of about 50 metres, the airplane continued for about 300 metres then lost height, rolled to the left and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and died seven hours later.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to position the stabilizers in a correct position for landing (negative instead positive angle). He was not familiarized with the aircraft and his experience on type was insufficient with 13,8 hours of flight. It was also reported that the instructor released the pilot too early for a solo flight.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 2M-17 near Ust-Kut: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2154
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Balagansk – Ust-Kut – Yakutsk
MSN:
12627
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1303
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Irkutsk on a flight to Yakutsk with intermediate stops in Balagansk and Ust-Kut, carrying three passengers, two crew members, 240 kg of bagages and 727 kg of mail. Approaching Ust-Kut, the engine lost power and started vibrating. The pilot shut it down and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane clipped trees and crashed in a wooded area located 50 km south of Ust-Kut. The captain was killed while four other occupants were injured. The following day, they walked through the taïga and found rescue.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failed in flight due to a fuel issue that was caused either by:
- the fuel valve was closed;
- a foreign object obstructed the fuel line;
_ the fuel pump failed.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-7 off Malmyzh: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2122
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky – Nizhnetambovskoye – Khabarovsk
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The float plane departed Nizhnetambovskoye at 1555LT on the final leg to Khabarovsk on a flight from Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky. The crew did not obtain any weather bulletin for en route and destination prior to takeoff. Also, several instruments such as the variometer, the path finder and the artificial horizon were unserviceable. After passing over Komsomolsk, weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds and the captain decided to reduce his altitude and to continue at a height of 150 metres. Later, stormy weather forced the pilot to lower again his altitude and eventually, he attempted to land on the Amur River. On final, he saw an island and initiated a sharp turn to the left when the left float impacted the water surface. The aircraft cartwheeled and crashed in the river off Malmyzh. A passenger and all three crew members were rescued while six other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The crew took the decision to take off without weather report being able to inform them about the conditions en route and at destination;
- The crew took the decision to start the flight whereas instruments were out of order;
- The crew decided to continue the flight after encountering poor weather conditions rather than returning to Nizhnetambovskoye;
- A pilot error during the last turn.

Crash of a Tupolev R-6 Limuzin in Poldasnia: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1933 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-J5
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Feodosia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Moscow to Feodosia, Crimea, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. As the visibility was too low, the pilot reduced his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane impacted a tree and crashed. All eight occupants were killed.