Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Aldan

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1996 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87423
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tynda - Aldan
MSN:
9 42 19 34
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Twenty-three minutes after takeoff from Tynda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 5,700 metres, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine n°2 (central engine). Due to an excessive temperature of the turbine, the captain decided to shut this engine down (the engine n°2 is equipped with a thrust reverser system). While descending to Aldan Airport, the aircraft approached in a nose down attitude and struck the ground 90 metres short of runway threshold with a positive acceleration of 4 g. On impact, the nose gear collapsed, the aircraft bounced several times then slid for 800 metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 11 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew took the wrong decision to fly to Aldan Airport instead of the alternate,
- The approach was continued with excessive gap related to the approach speed and altitude,
- On final, the aircraft was in an excessive nose down attitude,
- The crew failed to identify and correct the wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in Aldan: 24 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-67656
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Aldan
MSN:
90 25 09
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
SVT301
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
On final approach to Aldan Airport, at a speed of 196 km/h, the crew extended the flaps to 42° when the aircraft adopted a 42,5° nose-up attitude. The crew elected to go-around but, as the speed dropped to 52 km/h, the aircraft stalled and crashed 273 metres short of runway and 160 metres to the left of its extended centreline. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 623 kilos above MTOW while departing Yakutsk Airport and 550 kilos above the max landing weight upon arrival at Aldan Airport. More than 400 kilos of bagages were placed in the rear compartment, causing the CofG to be out of permissible limits.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Aldan

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-16027
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aldan - Uchur
MSN:
1G163-32
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Aldan Airport, the engine lost power. The airplane lost height and crashed in a wooded area. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Aldan

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1978 at 0652 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87911
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aldan - Yakutsk
MSN:
9 73 18 54
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
SU401
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
422
Aircraft flight cycles:
301
Circumstances:
After a normal takeoff roll, the rotation was initiated at a speed of 178 km/h. During initial climb, the right wing dropped to an angle of 30°. Correction was attempted by ailerons but the airplane continued to descend, struck a 1,5 meter high snow wall and crash landed in a snow covered field. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 12 passengers escaped uninjured while five crew members were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident and the reason of the right wing drop could not be established and identified. The takeoff speed was correct.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M in Aldan

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1972 at 1931 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-91537
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aldan – Chulman – Takhtamygda – Chita – Irkutsk
MSN:
1470 012 02
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
SU423
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Aldan Airport, while in initial climb at a speed of 160 km/h, the right engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing on a small hill located six km from the airport and reduced his altitude when the right wing struck trees and the roof of a barn before crashing in flames. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Due to the fact that the right engine was totally destroyed by fire, investigations were unable to determine the cause of the failure that occurred during initial climb.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Aldan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1967 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-16150
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Takhtamygda – Kyzyl-Syr
MSN:
37 03
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Takhtamygda to Kyzyl-Syr with one passenger on board. While cruising in clouds, the left engine failed. The captain decided to divert to Aldan for an emergency landing. On approach, the crew was unable to lower the gear so the captain decided to make a go-around. Due to the presence of mountains all around the airport, the captain decided to make a sharp turn to the left. From a height of 15-20 meters, the airplane banked left then stalled and crashed in a snow covered field located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight for undetermined reason. The presence of icing conditions and the complexity of the approach at Aldan Airport due to mountains all around were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Aldan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1960 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98282
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1101 473 09
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1896
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a geophysical survey flight in the west part of Aldan, Yakutia. At the end of the mission, the crew was returning to the east and while flying face to the sun at a height of 1,046 meters, the single engine aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located about 145 km west of Aldan. The captain and the flight engineer were killed instantly. The flight operator and the navigator were injured and walked away to find help. After four km walk, the navigator died from his injuries and his body was found thirteen days later on July 18. The flight operator eventually find help and was evacuated to a local hospital. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced to one km due to clouds.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to take into consideration the high OAT ( 23°) and its effect on the rate of climb and the airplane's performances. Also, the following factors were considered as contributing:
- The crew failed to make any reconnaissance flight prior to the mission,
- Flying against the sun,
- Poor flight preparation.