Ashgabat

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashkhabad - Chardzhou

MSN:

9 74 01 56

YOM:

1977

Location:

Chardzhou

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Chardzhou Airport, at an altitude of 30-40 meters, the airplane banked left then lost height and crashed onto several datchas located in the approach path. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but all 35 occupants survived. The flight engineer was injured. There were no injuries on the ground.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control on short final was the consequence of wake turbulences caused by a Mil-Mi 6 helicopter that was preceding the Yak-40. Investigations revealed that the controller in charge of approaches failed to respect the minimum separation between the helicopter and the Yak-40. Poor organization of ATC in Turkmenistan was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14LIK near Ashgabat: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1976 at 0735 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-61756

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ashgabat - Ashgabat

MSN:

1470 012 50

YOM:

1957

Location:

Ashgabat

Ashgabat City District

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16199

Circumstances:

After departure from Ashgabat Airport, the crew completed several circuits and calibration missions in the region of the Ashgabat Airport. While cruising at an altitude of 990 metres about 50 km from Ashgabat, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Uldepe (1,631 metres high). The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six crew members were killed. The Ilyushin II-14 version LIK (Lyotno-izmeritelnyy Kompleks) is a special version for calibration mission only.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and neglected published and approved procedures. A lack of discipline and a low visibility were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Mary

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46552

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Mary Province (Mary welaýaty)

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mary – Ashgabat

MSN:

87304506

YOM:

1968

Location:

Mary

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Mary Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 meters, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for a safe landing. While descending to Mary, the crew realize he could not reach the airport so he attempted a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Darvaza: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1965 at 0957 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-64842

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Daşoguz Province (Daşoguz welaýaty)

Schedule:

Tashauz – Darvaza – Ashgabat

MSN:

64 01

YOM:

1949

Flight number:

SU112

Location:

Darvaza

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8758

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Darvaza Airport in excellent weather conditions, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left to an angle of 30°, nosed down and crashed in flames in a desert area located 4 km from the runway end, about 600 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that both engines stopped during initial climb as the fuel selector was positioned on the front right fuel tank which was empty at the time of the accident. Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Ashgabat: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1963 at 1934 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75765

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Krasnovodsk – Ashgabat

MSN:

181 0034 04

YOM:

Flight number:

SU191

Location:

Ashgabat

Ashgabat City District

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2098

Aircraft flight cycles:

1213

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Krasnovodsk Airport at 1804LT and shortly after takeoff, the crew was informed about weather conditions at destination with a sand storm and a visibility limited to 1,000 meters. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters, weather conditions worsened and the crew obtained the permission to modify his route. At a distance of 25 km from Ashgabat, the crew started the descent and reached the altitude of 400 meters when he reported the runway lights in sight. Shortly later, the airplane became unstable and lost height. It banked left to an angle of 7°, struck power cables and a concrete post. Out of control, it banked left to an angle of 30°, stalled and crashed in flames 1,012 meters short of runway threshold. Eight crew members and four passengers were killed while 42 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the crew who continued the approach in below minima weather conditions. Errors on part of ATC were also reported as they cleared the crew to land in below minima weather conditions and failed to divert the crew to another airport. It was also determined that the information transmitted to the crew relating to weather conditions at destination did not reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Tashkent: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1958 at 0310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-61663

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Tashkent Province (Toshkent viloyati)

Schedule:

Mineralnye Vody – Ashgabat – Tashkent

MSN:

6 34 20 07

YOM:

1956

Flight number:

SU466

Location:

Tashkent-Yuzhny

Country:

Uzbekistan

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3295

Circumstances:

On approach to Tashkent-Yuzhny Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The visibility was reduced due to the combination of snow falls and night. On final, the captain decided to make a go around and attempted a second approach instead of diverting to a suitable airport. During the second approach, as he was unable to locate the runway, the crew again decided to make a go around when, at a height of 100-150 meters, the airplane stalled, banked right and crashed in a snowy field. All 21 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of wrong decision on part of the crew who decided to continue the approach below weather minima conditions. The crew failed to divert to a suitable terrain and while performing a second go around manoeuvre, the airplane stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashauz

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1946 at 1605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4278

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Daşoguz Province (Daşoguz welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Tashauz

MSN:

184 229 07

YOM:

Location:

Tashauz

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

869

Circumstances:

During the last segment, while at a height of 10 meters, the crew reduced power on both engines when a fire erupted on the left wing. The pilot in command completed the landing and after touchdown, made an emergency brake procedure. When the aircraft came to a halt, all 16 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were unhurt. The aircraft burnt for about 12-14 minutes and was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the person in charge to refuel the aircraft in Ashgabat Airport failed to properly close the left fuel tank cap. This was possible because the fuel filter was not correctly set in the fuel line. This led fuel to leak in flight and on approach, the fuel spilled along the wing root, over the wing and eventually caught fire while in contact with high temperature elements of the left engine.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Darvaza: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1946 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L35

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Daşoguz Province (Daşoguz welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Darvaza

MSN:

6445

YOM:

Location:

Darvaza

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3536

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Ashgabat to Darvaza, carrying a load of various goods for a total weight of 2,400 kilos. On final approach to Darvaza Airport, the aircraft adopted a high nose attitude and then stalled before crashing in a desert area located one km short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the left elevator failed on final approach due to the failure of several bolts located on the inner part of the elevator. This was the result of a faulty maintenance on the part of the technicians of the company. Wrong reaction on part of the crew was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Chardzhou

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1945 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L41

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Chardzhou – Alma Ata

MSN:

5457

YOM:

Location:

Chardzhou

Country:

Region: