Arkhangelsk

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk – Soyana – Dolgoshchel’e – Mezen

MSN:

1G191-52

YOM:

1981

Flight number:

9135

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4742

Captain / Total hours on type:

4336.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

969

Copilot / Total hours on type:

761

Aircraft flight hours:

13509

Aircraft flight cycles:

20389

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Arkhangelsk-Vaskovo Airport on a flight to Mezen with intermediate stops in Soyana and Dolgoshchel’e, carrying 12 passengers (11 adults and one child) and two pilots. En route, weather conditions deteriorated with drizzle. The crew reduced his altitude from 400 to 300 metres when frost formed on the windshield. The captain decided to return to Arkhangelsk but the aircraft' speed dropped from 170 to 120 km/h. Unable to maintain the speed and altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located about 50 km northeast of Arkhangelsk-Talaghy Airport. All 14 occupants were rescued, among them two passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident with the An-2 RA-84674 aircraft occurred during a forced landing in the forest, the need for which was due to the impossibility of continuing the flight due to the effect of icing on the aerodynamic and traction characteristics of the aircraft (the inability to maintain altitude and speed even with the takeoff engine operating mode). The contributing factor, most likely, was the decision of the crew to climb over 150 m from the ground level, where the presence of stratus clouds and icing was predicted.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Vozhdoroma: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1990 at 1544 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-07207

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Rochegda – Bereznik – Arkhangelsk

MSN:

1G146-36

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU744

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

13463

Aircraft flight cycles:

13919

Circumstances:

En route to Arkhangelsk, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew decided to continue rather than to return to Bereznik. After being cleared to descend to an altitude of 150 meters, the aircraft entered an area of poor visibility when the crew lost his orientation. This caused the aircraft to deviate from the prescribed routing when, shortly later, it struck the cable of an antenna located in a military zone, about one km from Vozhdoroma. The aircraft lost height and crashed 250 meters further, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The decision of the crew to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions (below weather mimina conditions) at an unsafe altitude and the failure to return to the departure point.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Leshukonskoye: 44 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1983 at 0853 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46617

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk - Leshukonskoye

MSN:

37308704

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU601

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20761

Aircraft flight cycles:

14302

Circumstances:

While approaching Leshukonskoye Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to freezing fog. On final, despite his position was wrong, the pilot decided to pass below the glide and continued. He then reduced the approach speed and initiated a slight turn to the right when the unstable aircraft lost height, banked left and crashed 230 meters from the runway threshold and 110 meters to the right of its extended centerline, bursting into flames. Four crew members and 40 passengers were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The decision of the crew to continue the approach beyond the MDA without any visual contact with the ground/runway. The pilot-in-command failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the approach configuration was wrong and despite the aircraft was unstable. Doing so, he failed to follow the published approach procedures. Lack of crew coordination and poor visibility due to freezing fog were considered as contributing factors.

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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk - Amderma

MSN:

77303602

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

SU513

Location:

Amderma

Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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-2 near Yernozero Lake: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1975 at 1208 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-01247

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yernozero Lake - Arkhangelsk

MSN:

17047311

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16542

Aircraft flight cycles:

18629

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane equipped with skis was engaged in a special flight from Yernozero Lake, about 108 km northeast of Arkhangelsk, carrying 12 fisherman back to Arkhangelsk. The takeoff was completed from the icy lake covered with fresh snow. During initial climb with flaps at 30°, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and with a relative low speed of 100 km/h, it struck tree tops (about 40 meters high) located on the shore of the lake. With a high angle of attack, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots and a passenger were seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. Four days later, the captain died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew inadvertently completed the takeoff procedure at a too low airspeed and with an excessive angle of attack for undetermined reason. This caused the aircraft to climb slowly and to adopt a high nose attitude before it struck trees located 1,410 meters after liftoff. The takeoff roll was too long, about 428 meters, on an icy lake whose ice was thawing and covered with fresh snow.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Arkhangelsk

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1966 at 1407 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75552

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk – Leningrad – Riga

MSN:

184 0074 04

YOM:

1964

Flight number:

SU3772

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

114

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3042

Aircraft flight cycles:

2297

Circumstances:

During takeoff run at Arkhangelsk-Talaghi Airport, the crew encountered control problems. As the airplane was unstable, the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and started an emergency brake maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overrun and came to rest. Ten passengers were injured while all 111 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to heavy structural damages.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to prepare the flight according to checklist and forgot to unlock the rudder prior to takeoff.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 on Mt Belaya: 18 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1960 at 1710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-04200

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mys Shmidta – Perek – Cherski – Chokurdakh – Tiksi – Khatanga – Dikson – Amderma – Arkhangelsk – Cherepovets – Moscow

MSN:

1470 014 18

YOM:

Flight number:

SU804

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3580

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a special flight from Mys Schmidta to Moscow with polar researchers from the Soviet Air Force on board. On the leg from Arkhangelsk to Cherepovets, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was flying at an insufficient altitude when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Belaya located in the region of Fedorovskaya, about 315 km southwest of Arkhangelsk. The aircraft was destroyed and all 18 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: visibility 4 km below cloud layer at 300 meters, fog, wind at 10 km/h and rain.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the captain decided to continue the flight at an insufficient altitude in poor weather conditions (below minima). Informations related to weather conditions were incomplete, which was considered as a contributing factor.

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:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mys-Kamennyy – Amderma – Arkhangelsk – Moscow

MSN:

30 236

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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-2 in Nijnyaya Pyocha: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1949 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4991

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Nijnyaya Pyocha – Arkhangelsk

MSN:

43 09

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

757

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 15-20 meters in strong crosswinds, the aircraft adopted a nose up attitude and stalled. It crashed 75 meters past the runway end and came to rest. Three crew members were killed while the radio operator was seriously injured. The crew was completing a cargo flight from Nijnyaya Pyocha to Arkhangelsk with a load of deer carcasses for a total of two tons.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the cargo was incorrectly loaded and unsecured. After rotation, the cargo shifted rearward, causing the center of gravity to move outside of the enveloppe and causing the aircraft to adopt a high angle of attack (high nose up attitude) and to stall. Strong crosswinds (up to 60 km/h) and a rushed departure on behalf of the crew were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200C Condor into the Kara Sea

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N400

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: