Zone
Kabul

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Jalalabad: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jalalabad - Kabul
Location:
Jalalabad
Nangarhar
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Jalalabad Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft was shot down by ground fire and crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed. The aircraft was en route to Kabul, carrying a load of construction materials, oil drums and barbed wire.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76 in Jalalabad: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-76
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kabul - Jalalabad
Location:
Jalalabad
Nangarhar
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Jalalabad Airport, the aircraft exploded and crashed near the village of Kariz Kabir, about 2 km from the runway threshold. All eight occupants were killed and six people on the ground were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Shashgow Ghazni: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1983
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
YA-GAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tarinkot - Kabul
MSN:
395
YOM:
1974
Location:
Shashgow Ghazni
Ghazni
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
After departure from Tarinkot (Urozgan) Airport bound for Kabul, weather conditions deteriorated. The crew decided to climb to an altitude of 18,500 feet under VFR mode. While flying in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed on the slope of a mountain located in Shashgow Ghazni. All 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. It was also determined that the crew suffered physical impairment due to a lack of oxygen while flying at high altitude.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP near Kabul: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1980 at 1032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11104
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sofia – Mineralnye Vody – Tashkent – Kabul
MSN:
01 347 710
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
SU1531
Location:
Kabul
Kabul
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
19130
Aircraft flight cycles:
6217
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Sofia to Kabul with intermediate stops in Mineralnye Vody and Tashkent. After being cleared to descend to FL200, FL180 and eventually FL95, the crew continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude until the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Vaysi-Karnibaba (2,800 meters high) located about 25,4 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
The crew took the decision to continue the descent below the minimum safe altitude over mountainous terrain without any visual contact with ground and various obstacles. Thus, the accident is the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Khost

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
235
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kabul - Khost
Location:
Khost
Khost
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances upon landing at Khost Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Kabul: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-10978
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fergana - Termez - Kabul
Location:
Kabul
Kabul
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Kabul, the captain deviated from the approach path and failed to initiate a go-around despite he was alerted by other crew members. The aircraft was too high on the glide and landed 2,300 meters pas the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran by 660 meters, hit obstacles and suffered substantial damage. The navigator was killed while all five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain who failed to initiate a go-around.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76M near Kabul: 47 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1979 at 2133 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-76
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-86036
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tashkent - Bagram
MSN:
093416500
YOM:
1979
Location:
Kabul
Kabul
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
47
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Tashkent-Yuzhny to Bagram AFB, Kabul, carrying 38 paratroopers and nine crew members. While descending by night at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 36 km from Kabul. The wreckage was found few hours later and none of the 47 occupants survived the crash. The airplane was engaged in the first day of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. Lack of navigation equipment and ground assistance was considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Bamyan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1973
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
YA-GAT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bamyan - Kabul
MSN:
111
YOM:
1968
Location:
Bamyan
Bamyan
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
At liftoff at Bamyan Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 15 other occupants were injured. All passengers were US and Canadian citizens.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Khost

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
YA-KAD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kabul - Khost
MSN:
9 12 05 17
YOM:
1971
Location:
Khost
Khost
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Khost Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. On short final, the three engine airplane struck tree tops located 154 meters short of runway 24 threshold. After impact, the airplane lost height and landed hard. The crew was able to stop the aircraft normally and as there were no injuries, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew was approaching the airport at a too low altitude to clear obstacles.
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