Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Amderma: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1991 at 1624 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ostafyevo AFB - Ryazan - Vorkuta - Tiksi
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Ostafyevo AFB on a flight to Tiksi with intermediate stops in Ryazan and Vorkuta, carrying 15 passengers, seven crew members and a load of 6 tons of plumbing and communication equipments. En route from Ryazan to Vorkuta, the crew was diverted to Amderma due to poor weather conditions. But on approach to Amderma, the crew also encountered poor weather conditions and initiated the descent prematurely. On final, the aircraft struck an ammunition depot and crashed in a snow covered field located 1,500 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. Two passengers were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was approaching Amderma Airport at an insufficient altitude after the crew initiated the descent prematurely. It was reported that the ILS system was unserviceable at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Amderma: 40 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 0101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46269
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Amderma
MSN:
77303602
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU513
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Aircraft flight hours:
19917
Aircraft flight cycles:
13194
Circumstances:
The approach to Amderma Airport was initiated by night when the airplane descended below the glide. At a speed of 206 km/h, the airplane struck the ground 1,850 meters short of runway threshold and crashed in flames on a small hill located 140 meters to the left of the extended centerline. Two passengers and a crew member were seriously injured while all 40 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a series of violations on part of the flying crew who failed to follow the published procedures regarding the approach completed by night, which resulted in a premature descent, causing the aircraft to continue the approach below the glide until impact with the ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The real altitude of the aircraft was less than the one reported by the navigator,
- The pilot-in-command decided to continue the approach once the aircraft passed below the glide,
- The pilot-in-command failed to initiate a go-around maneuver,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The navigator in charge of the approach was under training and his instructor failed to assist during the approach maneuver,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 816 kilos above the MTOW at takeoff from Arkhangelsk.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Amderma

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11341
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4 017 02
YOM:
1963
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft landed hard. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest into deep snow. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Vorkuta

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11360
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Amderma - Khatanga - Magadan
MSN:
4 028 05
YOM:
1964
Location:
Vorkuta
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Moscow-Domodedovo to Amderma, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions in Amderma and was cleared to divert to Vorkuta Airport. While on a night approach with a visibility limited to 850 meters, the captain was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and crashed into a ravine located about 140 meters short of runway threshold. All eight occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach in below-minima weather conditions and the decision of the captain to attempt a go-around was taken too late.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Amderma: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1969 at 0233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11376
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Amderma – Khatanga – Magadan – Yakutsk
MSN:
4 024 06
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
SU5009
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
6657
Aircraft flight cycles:
2109
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Moscow to Yakutsk with intermediate stops in Amderma, Khatanga and Magadan, carrying a load of fruits (grapes, pears and lemons) for a total weight of 10,776 kilos. Following an uneventful flight from Sheremetyevo Airport, the crew started the approach to Amderma and was cleared to descent to 600 meters. At high speed, flaps and undercarriage retracted, the airplane was on a straight-in approach when it banked left in a 40° angle and crashed in a prairie located 15 km short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris were found scattered on 540 meters long and 180 meters wide. All 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the accident may have been caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on wings and stabs. Also, it could be possible that the loss of control was the consequence of a technical problem with the autopilot system.

Ground accident of an Antonov AN-12B in Amderma: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1969 at 2147 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11377
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Amderma – Norilsk
MSN:
4 024 07
YOM:
1964
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
6471
Aircraft flight cycles:
2122
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Moscow to Norilsk with an intermediate stop in Amderma, carrying a load of eggs for a total weight of 9,108 kilos. Following a uneventful stopover, the crew was cleared to taxi to join the holding point for takeoff. At the same time, a Soviet Air Force Tupolev TU-128 landed when the right main gear collapsed on touchdown. The Tupolev veered off runway and collided with the Antonov that was 125 meters from the main runway, causing both aircraft to burst into flames. Both aircraft were destroyed and both pilots of the Tupolev were killed as well as five crew members on board the Antonov.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear of a TU-128 upon landing that caused the aircraft to veer off runway and to collide with the taxiing Antonov.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Ust-Kara

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N492
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Amderma – Ust-Kara
MSN:
184 299 08
YOM:
1948
Location:
Ust-Kara
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2158
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an ambulance flight from Amderma to Ust-Kara to pick up a patient back to Amderma. After decending successively to 600 meters and 300 meters in marginal weather conditions (limited visibility to 4 km in rain and snow, low clouds), the pilot decided to continue the descent despite he could not clearly locate the runway. On short final, the airplane struck the snowy ground and plunged in a deep snow layer (60 cm), slid for several yards and came to rest 250 meters short of runway threshold. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain who decided to continue the descent without clear visual contact with the runway.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Kepino: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1955 at 1051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N479
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mys-Kamennyy – Amderma – Arkhangelsk – Moscow
MSN:
30 236
YOM:
27
Location:
Kepino
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
2630
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,700 meters between Amderma and Arkhangelsk, a technical failure occurred on the manifold of the left engine, causing fuel to spill in the nacelle and a fire to develop. The crew tried to extinguish the fire but without success. So the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located near Poltozero Lake. Rescuers arrived on site a day later and were able to evacuate 26 wounded people while five others were killed, among them four crew members as the cockpit was totally destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the direct cause of the accident was a fire that occurred in the nacelle of the left engine due to the failure of a fuel line, presumably from a ringing tube located in the left nacelle as a result of a metallurgical defect. The fuel then spilled inside the nacelle and ignited in contact with exhaust gases. The nacelle caught fire and later, the engine detached. It was also reported that the validity of the certificate of airworthiness expired on March 2, which obviously did not provide an opportunity to fly to Pevek and back. A small remainder of the resource obliged the crew to closely monitor the condition of the material part and regularly perform the required maintenance at the intermediate airports. In fact, the crew in the process of the flight exceeded the established daily norm and failed to perform the 25-hour routine maintenance during the three-day parking at Pevek Airport.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T into the Barents Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1948 at 1917 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N464
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Amderma - Amderma
MSN:
184 282 01
YOM:
1947
Location:
Barents Sea
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
430
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission in the region of the Franz Josef archipelago. While returning to Amderma, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong headwind, fog and low visibility. In such conditions, the crew lost his orientation and deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 210 km. As fuel seemed to be insufficient to reach Amderma under these conditions, the captain decided to divert to Novaya Zemlya, but failed to regain orientation and missed Novaya Zemlya while flying through the Kara Straits. After being in the air for 15 hours and 12 minutes, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The crew prepared for a ditching in high seas in the Barents Sea between Varandei island, Matveyev Island and Cape Medynski Zavorot by night. An empty dinghy was found few days later but no trace of the seven crew members nor the aircraft that was lost. It was determined that the crew was able to evacuate the cabin but probably did not survive to the extreme outside conditions. Investigators did not understand why the operator and the pilots decided to perform such mission in such conditions with this type of aircraft that was not suitable for this.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Mt Netem-Pe: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N444
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dudinka – Amderma
MSN:
1848009
Location:
Mt Netem-Pe
Republic of Yamalia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While flying by night from Dudinka to Amderma, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and due to low visibility, became lost. The aircraft hit the eastern slope of Mt Netem-Pe (1,338 meters high) located 143 km north of Kharp, in the Iamalo-Nenets okrug. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. Walkers found the wreckage in an isolated area on September 17, 1950. All 20 occupants were killed. It appears the crew was tired at the time of the accident and did not have a sufficient rest time prior to start the flight.
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