Graham Bell Island | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a cargo/supply mission to local scientists based in the Franz-Josef Archipelago. On approach to Ledovaya Baza airfield located about 53 km north of the Graham Bell Island, the crew encountered whiteout conditions when the aircraft crashed short of runway and came to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft was repairable. A team was dispatched to recover the plane and on May 13, while trying to get it out from his position, the aircraft went through the ice and sank.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 on Graham Bell Island

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-11994

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2 34 04 02

YOM:

1962

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances on Graham Bell Island while performing a cargo flight. Nobody was hurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned in situ.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M on Graham Bell Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1963 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-04197

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Nagurskoye - Nagurskoye

MSN:

1470 013 26

YOM:

1957

Location:

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Aircraft flight hours:

8051

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Nagurskoye Airport, in the Franz-Josef Archipelago, at 0820LT with a crew of five and two hydrologists on board to perform an ice reconnaissance to allow the launch of the icebreaker 'Indigirka'. While flying at an altitude of 150 meters in a visibility less than one km, the aircraft struck the southwest slope of the Graham Bell Glacier, flew for 750 meters before crashing in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minima.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to follow the published procedure while cruising at an insufficient altitude in limited visibility (below minima). Due to a conception issue, the on-board weather radar failed to detect the mountain.