Almaty | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Almaty Airport, while climbing to a height of 80 meters at a speed of 180 km/h, the left engine failed and caught fire. The captain decided to divert to the nearest Pervomaiski Airbase located 4,5 km from his position. On final approach, the aircraft stalled, hit a first building, several trees, two telegraph poles and eventually crashed on a second building. A stewardess was killed while 18 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The left engine failed and caught fire shortly after takeoff due to the failure of the tenth cylinder, apparently due to poor maintenance on part of the company mechanics. Nevertheless, the techniques adopted by the pilot on short final were inappropriate, which contributed to the stall.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Leninabad: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4088

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Leninabad – Alma Ata

MSN:

184 137 04

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1984

Circumstances:

The aircraft lifted off from Leninabad after a takeoff roll of 1,200 meters only. After rotation, while in initial climb at a height of 2-3 meters, the aircraft hit a telephone pole and power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. Three occupants were killed while four others were injured, among them the copilot. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. The crew was performing a cargo flight to Alma Ata, carrying a load consisting of apricots and silk.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the takeoff roll was too long because the total weight of the aircraft was 627 kilos above the MTOW. Despite the situation, the captain did not take the decision to abandon the takeoff and completed the rotation after a course of 1,200 meters with an insufficient speed. After liftoff, a part of the cargo totaling 290 kilos shifted in the rear of the cabin, causing the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52 near Taldykorgan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L26

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Alma-Ata – Novossibirsk

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to his base after all three BMW engines have been replaced by three Shvetsov ASh-62. While flying into severe weather conditions, the aircraft crashed into a mountain located near Taldykorgan. All four crew members were killed. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown (someday in 1946) and the registration is not confirmed: CCCP-L26 or CCCP-L28.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Koksu: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1944 at 0715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L40

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Alma Ata – Semipalatinsk – Kuybyshev

MSN:

3325

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a ferry flight from Alma Ata to Kuybyshev with an intermediate stop in Semipalatinsk. En route, the pilot in command deviated from the prescribed flight path to the east in order to circumvent an area of poor weather and overflew high mountains. As he was unable to gain sufficient height, the three engine aircraft stalled and crashed at a height of some 2,700 meters into the steep wall of a gorge near a pass over the khrebet Dzhil-Dhuta mountain range (3,050 meters), about 15 km northwest of Koksu. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The decision of the crew to modify their route to the east was wrong. It was preferable to fly to the west to avoid the mountain range, especially in poor weather conditions. It was reported that the navigator was not aware of the presence of mountains above the altitude of 3,000 meters, which was considered as a contributory factor. Also, deficiencies were pointed out with flight planification and the operations of the company.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 near Baiserke: 26 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1941 at 1126 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3043

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Almaty – Karaganda – Aktyubinsk – Kuybyshev – Kazan

MSN:

22 182

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2150

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Alma-Ata Airport at 1110LT on a special flight to Kazan with intermediate stops in Karaganda, Aktyubinsk and Kuybyshev. On board were high-ranking party and state officials of the Kazakh government. At the time of departure, weather conditions were poor with low clouds, turbulences, fog and severe icing. About sixteen minutes after takeoff, the captain decided to return to Alma-Ata Airport because of the weather. While completing a steep turn to the left at an altitude of 100-150 metres, he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field located 6 km northwest of Dmitriyevka (now Baiserke), bursting into flames. Five crew members and 21 passengers were killed while eight other occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to takeoff in below-minima weather conditions with low clouds, fog, turbulences and severe icing.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Trostyanka

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3530

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow – Kuybyshev – Almaty

MSN:

3/215

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Kyubyshev to Almaty, the crew encountered technical problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a pasture located in Trostyanka, about 70 km east of Kuybyshev. The crew was uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.