Irkutsk

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1359

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk

MSN:

30 074

YOM:

Flight number:

SU005

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5734

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing flight SU005 from Moscow to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops at Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, carrying three passengers, a crew of four and a load of various goods for a total weight of 417 kilos. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the aircraft went out of control and entered a dive. At an altitude between 500 and 1,000 meters, the airplane disintegrated in the air and all debris scattered in a field and a wooded area located in Komarovo, about 37 km south-southwest of Kansk. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of severe turbulences that exceeded the design of certain parts of the airplane. Poor flight preparation on part of the operator and the failure to consider the possibility of a deterioration of the weather conditions were considered as contributing factors. Also, the crew was not properly briefed about weather conditions prior to departure from Krasnoyarsk Airport.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Krasnoyarsk: 19 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1954 at 0010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1789

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Irkutsk – Novosibirsk

MSN:

9 301 32 06

YOM:

1949

Flight number:

SU136

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was supposed to fly from Irkutsk to Novosibirsk but weather conditions at destination deteriorated in flight so the crew was diverted to Krasnoyarsk Airport. While approaching the Krasnoyarsk area by night, the crew was cleared by ATC to descend to 1,500 meters. Descending to the altitude of 1,725 meters in poor visibility, the twin engine aircraft hit the east slope of Mt Sivukha (1,807 meters high) located 30 km from the Mana River. As the airplane failed to arrive in Krasnoyarsk, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 19 occupants was found. The wreckage was found in June 1955, about 132 km south of the intended route. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 19 occupants have been killed, among them nine foreign citizens (one Polish, one Chinese and 4 Cyprus, four UNO emissaries in Vietnam).

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off course by 132 km and deviated from the prescribed flight path from 10° due to strong winds blowing from the northwest up to 130 km/h. Poor flight organisation and follow up, letting the crew descending to 1,500 meters while the minimum safe altitude was 2,100 meters in the area and incomplete information transmitted to the crew regarding wind component that did not reflect the truth were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Iskra: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1951 at 0442 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4790

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Irkutsk – Chita – Yakutsk

MSN:

184 341 04

YOM:

Flight number:

SU451

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1026

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Irkutsk Airport at 0431LT in poor weather conditions with an horizontal visibility of 2 km in snow falls, low cloud base, turbulences and icing conditions. After its departure, the airplane failed to follow the prescribed flight path and few minutes later, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to feather the propeller and to return to the airport. Approximately 10 to 15 seconds later, while losing altitude, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed inverted in a wooded area located 4 km north of the village of Iskra, about 20 km east of Irkutsk. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area 10 days later, on April 4. A passenger was found seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the third cylinder of the right engine failed in flight, causing the engine to catch fire. With one engine inoperative and flying in icing conditions and turbulences, the aircraft was unable to maintain height, hit trees and crashed. The board determined that the following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of visibility due to poor weather,
- icing conditions and turbulences,
- poor maintenance of the right engine regarding the 50 hours periodic inspection procedure,
- poor quality of the third cylinder,
- improper adjustment of the exhaust valve,
- the pilot-in-command voluntarily modified the crew prior to take-off and requested the presence of a copilot who was not licensed to fly a Lisunov LI-2 but only a Polikarpov PO-2,
- because of his inexperience on this type of aircraft, the copilot was unable to assist the captain in a complexe flight situation,
- the crew was tired and intoxicated after consuming alcohols prior to takeoff.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Kabansk: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1949 at 0514 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1844

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Alma Ata – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Chita

MSN:

9 301 35 14

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

On the left from Irkutsk to Chita, while cruising by night at an assigned altitude of 3,000 meters, the crew encountered icing conditions and received the permission to reduce his altitude to 2,400 meters. Few minutes later, at 0512LT, the crew contacted ATC but was asked to standby because the frequency and the ATC was busy. Two minutes later, while an altitude of 1,400 meters, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed 150 meters further in a wooded area located on the slope of the Kabanya Mountain (1,479 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 14 occupants were killed, among them probably some members of the self-proclaimed government of the East Turkestan Republic.

Probable cause:

No technical issue or findings were found with the aircraft or its equipment, instruments or components. Investigations were unable to determine the reason why the crew was flying at the altitude of 1,400 meters, below the assigned flight level. In such conditions, it was considered that the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Marga: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1949 at 1135 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1714

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk

MSN:

8 301 28 11

YOM:

Flight number:

SU005

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Moscow to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops in Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk with a load consisting of 2,204 kilos of various goods and 115 kilos of mail. En route to Irkutsk, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the left engine caught fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire but the captain decided to divert to Nizhneudinsk Airport for a safe landing. As the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude, the passengers jettisoned the mail bags. While at a height of some 40-60 meters with only the right engine running, the aircraft hit the tops of several larches, stalled and crashed in flames in a grain field located 5 km southeast of the Sheberta rail station, northeast of Marga. One crew member was injured while 13 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The fire on the left engine was the consequence of the failure of the piston #12 that broke in flight as a result of the defect of the upper part of the rod. Following this, the bolt broke and the fuel leaked into the engine and ignited while in contact with high temperature elements. It was reported that the piston failure was due to a bore default during the construction. Also, experts blamed the crew who did not take the decision to land immediately rather than trying to reach Nizhneudinsk Airport that was situated 60 kilometers from their position.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Irkutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1937 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T190

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Irkustk

MSN:

9819

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

124

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Irkutsk on a local solo training flight. Another similar airplane registered CCCP-T118 was also completing a local training flight at the same time. Both pilots were assigned to a training zone. For unknown reasons, the pilot of the CCCP-T118 changed his heading and departed his training zone when the collision occurred. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near the airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on the part of the pilot of CCCP-T118 who changed his heading and flew out of his designated area, violating instructions and published procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Irkutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1937 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T118

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Irkustk

MSN:

8680

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

255

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Irkutsk on a local solo training flight. Another similar airplane registered CCCP-T190 was also completing a local training flight at the same time. Both pilots were assigned to a training zone. For unknown reasons, the pilot of the CCCP-T118 changed his heading and departed his training zone when the collision occurred. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near the airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on the part of the pilot of CCCP-T118 who changed his heading and flew out of his designated area, violating instructions and published procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 off Posolskoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1935 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1555

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Irkutsk – Ulan-Ude – Mogocha

MSN:

8259

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Irkutsk Airport on a cargo flight to Mogocha, carrying one passenger, one pilot and a load of 230 kg of various goods. En route, the engine caught fire an the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed on the ice of Lake Baïkal, some 10 km west of Posolskoye. SAR operations were initiated three days later only. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were not found. Some foot print were found on ice and snow but both occupants were later considered as deceased.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight, maybe following the failure of a fuel supply or a malfunction of the carburetor.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Kaduy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1934 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L786

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site: