Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40K in Chardzhou

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87930
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashkhabad - Chardzhou
MSN:
9 74 01 56
YOM:
1977
Location:
Chardzhou
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 Antonov AN-2 in Karaul-Kuyu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1962 at 0904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07968
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chardzhou – Mary
MSN:
1 47 473 02
YOM:
30
Location:
Karaul-Kuyu
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
3300
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a cargo flight from Chardzhou to Mary, carrying 40 bottles of sulfuric acid for a total of 1,200 kg. 18 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters, smoke spread in the cabin and a fire erupted. The copilot elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck a small dune and crashed in flames near Karaul-Kuyu, south of Chardzhou. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were seriously injured (burned). Two days later, the copilot died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from the ignition of the sulfuric acid in flight. Investigations stated that the cargo was not properly packaged and that the flight was not dispatched according to the procedures in force referring to dangerous goods transportation.

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:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Chardzhou – Alma Ata
MSN:
5457
YOM:
0
Location:
Chardzhou
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Ashgabat to Chardzhou (now Türkmenabat) of a positioning flight from Ashgabat to Alma Ata for overhaul by ARM-405 when the right engine failed near Repetek. The pilot decided to go around on landing at Chardzhou as he was unable to make out the landing T, being blinded by flying against the sun, the aircraft lost height and speed while flying a left turn. The pilot did not cope with the situation so the aircraft collided with an irrigation canal and trees 4 km from the airfield, lost its landing gear, flaps and ailerons and crash landed. Both outer engines broke of. All seven occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot in command and inadequate decisions caused the aircraft to lose height and crash on final.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-20bis near Tashkent: 36 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-20
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L760
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chardzhou - Tashkent
YOM:
1938
Location:
Tashkent
Tashkent Province (Toshkent viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Aircraft flight hours:
272
Circumstances:
The six engine aircraft was performing a regular schedule flight from Chardhou (Turkmenistan) to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with a crew of six and thirty passengers on board. On descent, while at an altitude of 500 meters, the aircraft nosed down at an angle of 80° and crashed in a huge explosion some 50 km from Tashkent Airport. All 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to Soviet Authorities, the captain was not at his seat at the time of the accident. Investigations revealed that a passenger was seating at the place of the captain and disconnected the automatic pilot before engaging the aircraft in a wrong attitude and configuration. This caused the aircraft to nose down and crash.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 near Chardzhou: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1941 at 0555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2010
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chardzhou – Urganch
MSN:
61
YOM:
1937
Location:
Chardzhou
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1043
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Chardzhou Airport at 0545LT. During the initial climb completed at night, the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation and failed to listen the warnings from his copilot. The airplane lost height then stalled and impacted the ground some 10-12 km southeast of the airport before coming to rest in the shallow water of the Amu-Darya River. Two crew members and five passengers were killed. Two other crew members and four other passengers were injured. All 23 other occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation during initial climb. It was reported that he was not allowed to fly at night.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Chardzhou: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1937 at 0905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L163
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chardzhou - Urganch
MSN:
164
YOM:
1933
Location:
Chardzhou
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
2087
Circumstances:
About five minutes after takeoff from Chardzhou Airport, while climbing to a height of about 500 metres, the right engine failed. The pilot decided to return to his departure point, made a turn to the left and reduced his altitude when the airplane stalled and crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- A fuel connection to the carburetor of the right engine moved after takeoff due to strong vibrations, preventing the engine from being properly fueled,
- Numerous repairs had been made to this engine over the past two days,
- The pilot took the decision to return to his departure point when there was a serviceable airfield located 800-1,000 metres from his position,
- The crew failed to shut off the fuel feed to the right engine, which led to the engine fire and explosion.
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