Frunze | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route, the engine malfunctioned then failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a field. There were no injuries while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Frunze: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1976 at 1535 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75558

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Frunze - Frunze

MSN:

184 0075 05

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

17652

Aircraft flight cycles:

7623

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Frunze-Manas Airport. On final approach, both right engines n°3 & 4 were shut down to simulate a double engine failure. While at 3,500 metres from the runway threshold at a speed of 300 km/h, the crew deployed the flaps at 30° when the airplane entered an area of limited visibility (less than 1,500 metres). The captain decided to initiate a go-around and triggered both right engine. For unknown reasons, the engine n°3 failed to restart. Due to an insufficient speed, the airplane banked right to an angle of 55-60° then lost height and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of several errors on part of the flying crew which led the aircraft in a configuration that became uncontrollable. The instructor allowed a pilot under training to seat in the front left seat while his experience and capabilities were insufficient for such flight configuration. The crew decided to deploy the flaps at 30° with both right engines not running, which caused the airplane's speed to drop to a critical value of 220 km/h. The decision of the crew to restart both right engines was too late.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 on Mt Airy Tash: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1970 at 2126 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87690

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Frunze - Khujand

MSN:

9 91 05 03

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

SH-4

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1020

Aircraft flight cycles:

1344

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Frunze Airport, Kirghizistan, at 2024LT bound to Leninabad, Tajikistan, carrying 18 passengers and a crew of three. Weather conditions were considered as good and the crew reached the assigned altitude of 5,700 meters. En route, the crew failed to realize the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west and informed ATC he passed over the cities of Namangan and Kokand. At 2121LT, ATC based at Leninabad cleared the crew to descent to 3,300 meters then 2,100 meters without knowing the exact position of the airplane. By night, at a speed of 500 km/h, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Airy Tash (2,300 meters high) located about 90 km northeast of Leninabad. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 21 occupants were killed. First accident involving a Yak-40.

Probable cause:

Poor flight planning, erroneous in-flight decisions and navigation errors on part of the flying crew caused the aircraft to be off-course at the time of the accident, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of ATC assistance who failed to properly check the exact position of the aircraft before clearing the crew to descent to 2,100 meters over mountains terrain,
- ATC failed to use properly the different navaids, poor ATC coverage,
- Both pilots were relatively inexperienced on this type of aircraft as they were recently qualified on Yak-40 type,
- Lack of experience in IFR flight and by night,
- Despite the fact that the captain had already been disciplined for serious violations of flight rules, he had recently been allowed to fly with passengers on night flights on this type of aircraft.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Kazalinsk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1969 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-43847

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aralsk – Amanutkul – Raym – Oktyabr – Kazalinsk – Frunze – Kaukey – Azhar – Kyzylorda

MSN:

1 67 473 14

YOM:

1956

Flight number:

SU643

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

10570

Circumstances:

The airplane arrived in Kazalinsk at 1020LT and 12 passengers embarked. The aircraft was fully booked and ready for departure when the captain accepted, against retribution, that 12 additional passengers (11 adults and one infant) embarked as well. Some 120 kilos of cargo and 120 kilos of additional baggage were also loaded. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 meters, the airplane adopted a high angle of attack when the tail stalled. Out of control, the airplane crashed 65 meters to the left of the main runway. 25 passengers were injured while one child was killed. A day later, two passengers died from their injuries and two other passengers died few days later. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.

Probable cause:

The decision of the captain to embark 12 additional passengers was criminal and against all published procedures. Neither the copilot nor the Airport Manager complained about this decision. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 6,484 kilos, some 1,234 kilos above the MTOW, taking into consideration the actual flying conditions. Also, the CofG was far aft and well outside the envelope, which caused the airplane to stall from the tail during initial climb. All additional passengers did not have safety belt.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 near Talas: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1969 at 1950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-91495

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Talas - Frunze

MSN:

7 34 33 06

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

SU028F

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16598

Aircraft flight cycles:

14162

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Talas Airport, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the right heading 270° instead to the left as in the published procedures. Six minutes later, ATC transmitted several instructions but nothing concerning the track deviation. While climbing to an altitude of 3,150 meters in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of a rocky mountain and crashed 39 km from the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 40 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew violated the published procedures and made a turn to the right instead of left after takeoff and continued to climb in clouds under VFR mode. In such conditions, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off track by 8,7 km. It was reported that the crew based in the Frunze region systematically violated the published procedures for this airport.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Tokmok: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1905

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Karakol – Frunze

MSN:

9467

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

170

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

In the morning, the pilot successfully completed a flight from Frunze to Karakol with two passengers and mail. In the early afternoon, he wanted to return to Frunze but weather conditions en route were not good. Hurry to return, he departed Karakol at 1300LT but the airplane failed to arrive in Frunze. The wreckage was found 35 km southeast of Tokmok, at an altitude of 2,800 metres, in the valley of Chon-Almaly. It was determined that the visibility was poor due to ceiling down to 1,000 metres and rain falls.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in unfavorable weather conditions and restricted visibility. Instead of returning to Karakol, the pilot decided to find a route in the clouds until the airplane impacted ground. Poor flight organization was a contributing factor.

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