Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Chokurdakh

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1997 at 1238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
KolymaAvia
Registration:
RA-26541
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Magadan – Tiksi – Chokurdakh – Magadan
MSN:
47302106
YOM:
1975
Location:
Chokurdakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the crew encountered limited visibility due to snow falls but the pilot-in-command was able to maintain a visual contact with the approach light system. Nevertheless, he failed to realized he descended below the MDA when the aircraft struck the ground 178 metres short of runway threshold and 77 metres to the right of its extended centerline. On impact, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest against meteo installations. All 17 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew initiated the final approach prematurely after passing over the outer marker. Serious flight safety deficiencies were identified by the operator during the investigations.

Crash of an Antonov AN-30 near Nizhneyansk: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1992 at 0237 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-30
Operator:
Myachkovo Avia
Registration:
CCCP-30002
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Anadyr - Chokurdakh - Tiksi - Baku
MSN:
1403
YOM:
1978
Location:
Nizhneyansk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Anadyr Airport on a cargo flight to Baku with intermediate stops in Chokurdakh and Tiksi, carrying five passengers and five crew members. While in cruising altitude by night, the aircraft suffered violent oscillations and started to pitch up and down. It entered an uncontrolled descent and at an altitude of 2,000 metres, it partially disintegrated and eventually crashed at a speed of 670 km/h in an icy river. All 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew disengaged and re-engaged several times the automatic pilot system for unknown reasons. This created tail and elevators' movements and the reaction of the crew was inappropriate. The aircraft suffered violent oscillations on both roll and pitch axis then entered an uncontrolled descent. The partial disintegration was the consequence of aerodynamic forces that exceeded the aircraft certification.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP near Deputatsky

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1981 at 1421 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-92858
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Keperveem – Chersky – Chokurdakh – Deputatsky
MSN:
1G53-10
YOM:
1965
Location:
Deputatsky
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
10619
Aircraft flight cycles:
12829
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a special flight from Keperveem to Deputatsky with intermediate stops in Chersky and Chokurdakh. After takeoff from Chokurdakh, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed route by 110 km. As the airplane ran out of fuel, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed about 13 km from Deputatsky. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to calculate properly the wind component en route from Chokurdakh to Deputatsky, causing the aircraft to be off course. Due to a longer flight than initially planed with two hours and 22 minutes, fuel reserve were low and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Chokurdakh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1977 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40572
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1G84-25
YOM:
1967
Location:
Chokurdakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
7735
Aircraft flight cycles:
7673
Circumstances:
In the morning, the crew completed two flights in the area. Due to engine problems, a technician was asked to make some engine test run. While the aircraft was parked on the ground, a technician proceeded to an engine test but forgot to install chocks on wheels. After the engine was started, power was added. The pilot who was standing by the door fell out of the plane that started to roll. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to a height of 12 meters, made a sharp turn to the left, stalled and crashed upside down. The technician, sole on board, was killed. It was determined that when the airplane started to roll quite roughly, the technician fell down from the pilot seat. Then, after liftoff, the cargo shifted to the rear of the cabin, causing the aircraft to stall.
Probable cause:
The technician in charge to proceed to an engine test started the engine and added full power without preparing the airplane properly and installing chocks on wheels prior to the test. The aircraft then moved roughly and became uncontrollable.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Batagay: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1970 at 2053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47701
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chokurdakh - Batagay
MSN:
59900202
YOM:
1965
Location:
Batagay
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,700 meters and received all information related to the destination airport. Shortly later, the crew informed ATC about their ETA in eight minutes. As the pilot has the runway in sight, he was cleared to descend to 600 meters. While cruising at an altitude of 1,020 meters at a speed of 350 km/h in a 7° nose-down attitude and a 3° left bank, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,081 meters high) located 40 km from the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 34 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the ground collision was the consequence of a premature descent on part of the pilot-in-command who continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and the lack of assistance on part of ATC were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Dornier DO J Wal near Chokurdakh

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Dornier Do J Wal
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N238
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kresty Kolymsky – Chokurdakh – Uelen – Anadyr – Krasnoyarsk
MSN:
99
YOM:
1928
Location:
Chokurdakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Kresty Kolymski to Chokurdakh, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew made an emergency landing in the tundra in the region of Chokurdakh. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 off Chokurdakh

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-X258
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chokurdakh – Egekhaya
Location:
Chokurdakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On June 23, the airplane departed Nagaev Bay in Magadan on a flight to Chokurdakh where one passenger and various equipment were loaded to supply workers in a mine located near Egekhaya. While taking off from the Protoka Ularovskaya River, the left float collided with a trunk floating on water and separated. Upon impact, the left wing was sheared off and the airplane crashed. All five occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a boat. The airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a collision with a trunk floating on water. Failure of the crew and the local authorities to make sure that the takeoff area was free of any obstacles.
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