Anadyr | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a mail flight from Egvekinot to Anadyr. On final approach to Anadyr-Liman Airport, weather conditions were poor with a limited visibility due to clouds down to 30 meters from the ground. During the last segment, the pilot-in-command saw a man walking on the runway and initiated a right turn in strong cross winds. The single engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway threshold. All six occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the man walking on the runway was dispatched to set fire on ground to guide the airplane on approach. Investigations reported that the crew has not been informed about the presence of the man walking on the runway and he has not been informed that an aircraft was scheduled to land.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Anadyr

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1958 at 0145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L5676

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Anadyr - Anadyr

MSN:

1 56 473 15

YOM:

1955

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a short 10 minutes flight between both Anadyr Airports and the airplane was carrying two passengers, two crew and various goods for a total weight of 880 kilos. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 40 meters, the aircraft stalled from the rear and crashed. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to secure the load properly prior to takeoff. At rotation, the freight moved to the rear of the cabin, causing the CofG to be out of the enveloppe and the aircraft to be out of control.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Gora Ioanna: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1956 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L5033

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lavrentiya – Uelkal – Anadyr

MSN:

184 356 09

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Aircraft flight hours:

5333

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Uelkal bound for Anadyr with seven passengers on board, a crew of five and 580 kg of various goods. While approaching Anadyr by night, the crew did not realized he was off course by eight km when, at an altitude of 720 meters, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Gora Ioanna (920 meters high) located about 35 km northeast of Anadyr. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the burnt wreckage was found four days later on a 50° slope. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the deviation. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to the night and clouds. The assumption that the aircraft was caught by downdraft was not ruled out.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Zolotoy Mountains

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Anadyr – Uelkal

MSN:

18422607

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Circumstances:

About 15 minutes after takeoff from Anadyr, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Zolotoy Mountain Range, northeast of Anadyr. While the occupant fate remains unknown, the aircraft was destroyed. It was reported by the Russian Authorities that the captain was known for his lack of discipline and his alcohol problems.

Crash of a Tupolev G-1 near Stalino

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1 & G-1)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N291

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kresty Kolymsky – Anadyr

MSN:

614

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Kresty Kolymsky to Anadyr on behalf of the Chukotskaya Aviagruppa on this Tupolev G-1, a version of the ANT-4. The captain (M. N. Tomilin) decided to cut the route short when shortly later, he encountered below-minima weather conditions (poor visibility, snow and icing). Instead to return, he decided to continue in such conditions when the aircraft crash-landed in the foothills of the Pekulny range on the upper reaches of the Afonkin River, some 60 km east of Stalino (now Mukhomornaya). The aircraft was lost while all three crew members were slightly injured and rescued.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the captain to continue the flight in below-minima weather conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 near Anadyr: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N274

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Perevalnaya – Anadyr

MSN:

12362

YOM:

1938

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Approaching Anadyr in marginal weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 80-100 metres, the pilot initiated a turn when the airplane lost speed, stalled and crashed in a snow covered field located 25 km from Anadyr. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the pilot to maintain a sufficient speed while performing a turn at a relative low height, causing the airplane to stall.

Crash of a Tupolev G-1 in Snezhnoye: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1 & G-1)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N289

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Anadyr – Snezhnoye

MSN:

795

YOM:

1932

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Circumstances:

The pilot failed to cope with landing on the Anadyr River near Snezhnoye in 'mirror' conditions. The floatplane landed hard, lost its floats, crashed into the water and sank in a depth of 8-9 metres. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot. Glassy water was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lockheed 5B Vega near Anadyr

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1933

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

James Joseph Mattern

Registration:

NR869E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

118

YOM:

1929

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Circumstances:

James Joseph Mattern was performing a second attempt to cross all Russia from/to the US via Siberia. En route, he encountered unknown technical problems and was forced to make an emergency landing some 80 km from Anadyr. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site, and the pilot was slightly injured. This Vega was the second one of JJ Mattern and received the same registration NR869E as his first Vega that crashed in Belarus on July 6, 1932. While the first Vega NR869E had the MSN 069, the second NR869E received the MSN 118.

Probable cause:

Forced landing due to unknown technical problems.