Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Golubichnoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1966 at 1857 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79860
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk - Khabarovsk
MSN:
1 163 473 02
YOM:
1962
Location:
Golubishnoye
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
4792
Circumstances:
The crew departed Khabarovsk-Maly Airport at 1757LT on a local training mission. An hour later, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a snow covered field located 16 km west of Golubichnoye, in the Amur district. The wreckage was found a day later. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was determined that at an altitude of 800 meters, the airplane descended at a vertical speed of 7 meters per second until the altitude of 200 meters then 21 meters per second until it struck the ground. At impact, the aircraft was in a nose down angle of 25°, 15° left angle and a speed of 250-300 km/h.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be established, either a fire had emerged in flight or the crew had lost spatial orientation in a snow-flurry.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: 87 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1964 at 2111 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75531
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Khabarovsk – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
180 0024 02
YOM:
1963
Flight number:
SU721
Location:
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Sakhalin oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
84
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
87
Aircraft flight hours:
1269
Aircraft flight cycles:
358
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Khabarovsk, the crew received the permission to descend to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport but was instructed to maintain a minimum altitude of 600 meters. By night, while in a flat attitude but slightly banked to the right, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located on Mt Ufa, some 26 km northwest of the airport. Six passengers (three adults and three children) were seriously injured while 87 other occupants, among them all nine crew members, were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to comply with the published procedures and started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to approach below the minimum safe altitude. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Poor flight preparation,
- Lack of visibility,
- Lack of radar availability at destination airport.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Kurun: 86 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1962 at 2142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42366
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Khabarovsk – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
8 66 011 03
YOM:
27
Flight number:
SU003
Location:
Kurun
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
79
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
86
Aircraft flight hours:
4426
Aircraft flight cycles:
1760
Circumstances:
After departure from Khabarovsk-Novy Airport, the crew was cleared to climb to the altitude of 4,000 meters. Once this altitude was reached, ATC cleared the crew to continue to climb to 8,000 meters. While climbing to the altitude of 4,500 meters, the copilot was able to send a brief distress call, reporting severe vibrations and that control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a 50-60° nose-down attitude in a huge explosion some 15 km southwest of the village of Kurun, some 96 km northeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 86 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft struck the ground in a 50-60° nose-down attitude, at high speed and on a slight left bank. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident and the civil investigators were not authorized to access some documents that were classified. It is possible that a technical problem occurred with the autopilot or ailerons or elevators. The assumption that the aircraft may have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile shot by Soviet forces conducting an exercise from the Litovko Training Center was not ruled out.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Lazo: 28 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1958 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3904
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Magadan – Okhotsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30 073
YOM:
5
Location:
Lazo
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Aircraft flight hours:
7834
Circumstances:
Approaching Khabarovsk in limited visibility, the crew lost his orientation and continued to the south. Few minutes later, in poor weather conditions, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. While cruising at an altitude of 850 meters, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (1,050 meters high) located in the Lazo district, about 145 km southeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
ATC were unable to determine the exact position of the aircraft and to assist the crew efficiently. It is believed that both engines eventually stopped due to a fuel exhaustion and that the crew was unable to attempt an emergency landing due to limited visibility and rough terrain.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Chita: 64 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1958 at 2220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5442
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
7 35 03 03
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU004
Location:
Chita
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
64
Aircraft flight hours:
1041
Aircraft flight cycles:
401
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Khabarovsk Airport with a delay of 3 hours and 35 minutes due to poor weather conditions. En route, while cruising at an assigned altitude of 11,000 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to gain height to avoid the low pressure area. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 12,000 meters, the airplane went out of control and nosed down. It dove into the ground and crashed by an angle of 60° nose down in a field located near Chita. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 64 occupants were killed. Debris were scattered on a distance of about 450 meters.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a loss of controllability due to atmospheric turbulences while cruising at an altitude of 12,000 meters which is in excess with the flying limitations and certification of the aircraft. Due to marginal weather conditions, the flight should be cancelled or postponed. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the ground operations, flying crew and flight director,
- The flight was delayed of 3 hours and 35 minutes, causing the aircraft to fly in worse weather conditions than predicted,
- Inadequate weather forecast,
- Poor weather conditions with atmospheric turbulences,
- Lack of clear instructions concerning the aircraft operation limitations (ceiling altitude),
- Violation of standard operating procedures.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Birobidzhan: 27 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1957 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1309
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Magdagachi – Irkutsk – Moscow
MSN:
30 015
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
SU010
Location:
Birobidzhan
Evreyskaya oblast (Jewish Autonomous oblast)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Aircraft flight hours:
10436
Circumstances:
While parked at Khabarovsk Airport, the aircraft encountered gusty winds up to 86 km/h. Strong winds were still gusting during taxiing and takeoff. At 1158LT, the crew left Khabarovsk Airport bound for Magdagachi. At 1235LT, while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the northwestern slope of Mt Poktoi located about 30 km west of Birobidzhan. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. The wreckage was located in June 1958 on a 45° slope terrain. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of the failure of the rudder that detached in flight following strong winds encountered on ground while parked at Khabarovsk Airport.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: 26 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1954 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4679
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
68 03
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
SU971
Location:
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Sakhalin oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
4219
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalisnk from the southeast in marginal weather conditions due to low clouds. At an altitude of 400 meters, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed inverted in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Komissarskaya (714 meters high) located 13,5 km southeast of the airport. The wreckage was found a day later and a passenger was found alive but seriously injured while all 26 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact.
Crew:
Vasily Trofimovich Degtyarenko, pilot,
Vladimir Parkhomenko, copilot,
Vyacheslav Fedorovitch Eliseikina, mechanic,
Daniel Epifanovich Raznotsvete, mechanic,
Piotr D. Novikov , radio navigator.
Probable cause:
The radio navigator mistook two outer markers when the crew started the approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport, and referred to the outer marker of the Korsakov Airbase (frequency 684 kHz) instead of the outer marker of the civil airport of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk-Bolchaya Yelan (frequency 670 kHz). Investigations reported that these two outer markers were too close from each other (13,5 km) with close frequency as well, which contributed to the mistake. The following factors were also pointed out: lack of visibility caused by low clouds (the crew failed to distinguish the mountain); the crew failed to use the radio altimeter and an abnormal action on part of the crew regarding the direction finder unit.

Crash of a Ilyushin II-12 in Magdagachi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1952 at 1339 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1308
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Magdagachi – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30014
YOM:
12
Flight number:
SU005
Location:
Magdagachi
Amur oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
1890
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Irkutsk to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops in Chita and Magdagachi, carrying a load of 2,090 kilos of various goods and mail. After a takeoff run of about 600 meters, the pilot-in-command completed the rotation and the aircraft climbed to a height of 30-40 meters when it banked right to an angle of 10-15° then up to 70°. Out of control, it plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 922 meters to the right of the extended center line, about 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 6 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that a technical issue or a wrong position of the left ailerons is not ruled out. At the time of the accident, strong crosswinds and turbulence were present at the airport and may be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T in Khabarovsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4437
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
33 05
YOM:
30
Location:
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
514
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered off the center line to the right as the rudder trim has not been set to neutral position before takeoff. The crew failed to abort the takeoff procedure and about 30 seconds after liftoff, during initial climb, the right wing hit a telegraph line and collided with the pole of a high voltage power line. Out of control, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The mechanic was killed while 13 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to prepare the flight properly and did not follow the pre departure checklist. In such conditions, they did not realize that the rudder trim was not set in neutral position, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway center line during the takeoff roll.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Khabarovsk: 22 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1947 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1048
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur – Khabarovsk
MSN:
11936
YOM:
26
Location:
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
2388
Circumstances:
On final approach, the visibility was poor due to severe weather and as the aircraft was too low, it hit with its right wing a radio antenna located 2,600 meters short of the runway threshold. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all 22 occupants.
Probable cause:
The crew was completing the approach procedure in weather conditions that were considered as below minima. In such situation, the captain should make a go around or divert to the nearest suitable airport. Deficiencies and irregularities were pointed out in flight organisation, operation management and crew training.
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