Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Olenitsa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2518
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Murmansk – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
165
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1857
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Murmashi Airport in Murmansk on an ambulance flight to Arkhangelsk, carrying four wounded soldiers and one pilot. About two hours into the flight, the engine started to lose power and later failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a bog located 270 km southeast of Murmansk and came to rest upside down. All four passengers escaped injured while the pilot was killed. The aircraft was later destroyed by an unintentional fire set up by the passengers who were smoking around the wreckage.
Probable cause:
Because the airplane was destroyed by fire, the cause of the engine failure could not be determined.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-40 near Arkhangelsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939 at 0922 LT
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared in the region of Arkhangelsk while completing a mission with four crew members on board. SAR failed to find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. The wreckage was eventually found by walkers in early 90's in an isolated area.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Moscow

Date & Time: May 22, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N214
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Moscow
MSN:
1065
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tushino Airport in Moscow, the aircraft landed 460 metres behind the landing T. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and crashed in a ditch. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Mezen

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2524
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Naryan-Mar
MSN:
22 154
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Arkhangelsk on a cargo flight to Naryan-Mar with an intermediate stop in Mezen, carrying a load consisting of cans of food for a total weight of 2,5 tons. Approaching the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls reducing visibility to 800 metres. Unable to establish a radio contact with the destination airport station, the captain asked the copilot to check the radio system. Doing so, the captain was distracted and lost visual references with the horizon. The airplane descended to the ground and crashed in a snow covered field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach after the pilot got distracted and lost his visual cues while discussing with the copilot concerning radio problems. The crew decided to continue the descent to the destination airport despite the airport radio station was unserviceable.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Krasnoborsk

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2180
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kotlas – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
125
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kotlas, at a distance of 40 km from his departure point, the pilot entered an area of thunderstorm activity. Rather than to return, he decided to continue when lightning stroke around him. Afraid and disoriented, the pilot cut off the contact and elected to make an emergency landing but finally decided to continue. As the contact was off, the magneto was not functioning so the engine failed to respond. The airplane crash landed in a field and collided with trees. Both occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-4 in Arkhangelsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N122
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Arkhangelsk, one of the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Dvina River. All four occupants, a doctor and three crew members were killed, among them the Soviet aviator Mikhail Babushkin.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.