Crash of an Airbus A320-231 in Kulob

Date & Time: Feb 2, 2014 at 0736 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airbus A320
Operator:
Registration:
EY-623
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Kulob
MSN:
428
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
ETJ704
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
187
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
18321
Captain / Total hours on type:
509.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2900
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1300
Aircraft flight hours:
54604
Aircraft flight cycles:
23974
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Moscow-Domodedovo Airport, the crew was cleared to land on runway 01 at Kulob Airport. In heavy snow falls, the aircraft landed 230 metres past the runway threshold at a speed of 255 km/h. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure when, after a course of 520 metres, the right main gear contacted a snow berm. Simultaneously, both engines impacted a snow berm (up to 95 cm high) and stopped due to the high quantity of snow ingested. The aircraft veered to the right, lost its nose gear and came to rest in snow, 20 metres to the right of the runway and 1,190 metres from its threshold. All 192 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident with A320-231 EY-623 aircraft was caused by the aircraft collision with snow parapet during landing on unprepared RWY that was cleared to 22 m in width (45 m RWY total width), and with 50-95 cm snow parapets along the cleared part that resulted in front gear leg destruction and engines flameout followed by aircraft runway overrun to the right. The accident was caused by the consequence of the following factors combination:
- flight operation officer decision for aircraft clearance on unprepared RWY,
- having unprepared RWY by the time of the aircraft arrival the aerodrome service didn't put temporary restrictions, didn't make the appropriate note in the "Aerodrome airworthiness log", didn't take any measures to prevent the aircraft landing on unprepared RWY.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Kulob

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1987
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70584
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1G127-52
YOM:
1971
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the airplane went out of control and collided with a tanker. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Stalinabad: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L46
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Kulyab
MSN:
6053
YOM:
1938
Location:
Dushanbe
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Stalinabad to Kulyab when the right wing caught fire some 20 minutes into the flight (probably due to a leak in a fuel pipe). The fuel tanks in the right wing exploded, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed into rocks in the Rangon Mountain Range located southeast of Stalinabad. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Tadjik investigation commission reported that the accident was caused by several errors committed by the crew. The NII GVF inspection disagreed with these results and reported that the crash may have been caused by a technical issue on a fuel line (carburetor and/or collector) linked to the right BMW-132 engine.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 near Kulob: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1941 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L112
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kulob - Stalinabad
MSN:
112
YOM:
1931
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
5387
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kulob Airport at 1100LT on a schedule service to Stalinabad, carrying 11 passengers (nine adults and two children), two pilots and a total of 265 kg of luggage. Ten minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 940 metres above a mountainous area, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but there were no suitable terrain. The airplane lost height and impacted the slope of a rocky mountain (slope of 60°) located 18 km northwest of Kulob. The wreckage was found less than an hour later some 15 metres below the summit. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the degree of destruction of the airplane and the lack of witnesses, the exact circumstances of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, one of the engine failed in flight, most probably due to the failure of a fuel supply and/or the carburetor where irregular and abnormal wears were found, because of a poor polish during the last repair session.

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

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1936 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1892
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kulob - Stalinabad
MSN:
9492
YOM:
1935
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1341
Aircraft flight cycles:
954
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Kulob Airport at 1650LT on a cargo flight to Stalinabad, carrying one pilot and six bags of corn for a total weight of 425 kg. After takeoff, the pilot made several circuits over the airport to reach the altitude of 800 metres then sets course for Stalinabad. About 10 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but there was not suitable terrain. Out of control, the airplane crashed on hilly terrain located about 10 km from Kulob. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an engine failure due to the failure of the lower head of the 3rd cylinder connecting rod as a result of poor heat treatment. The accident occurred in an area that did not allow the pilot to make an emergency landing, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Kulob: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1936 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L192
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stalinabad - Kulob
MSN:
193
YOM:
1934
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
1452
Aircraft flight cycles:
857
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalinabad on a regular service to Kulob, carrying four passengers, two pilots and a load of 502 kg of various goods, 97 kg of mail and 54 kg of luggage. Following a downwind leg, while flying over the runway at a height of 10 metres, ready for landing, the pilot-in-command increased the engine power and initiated a go-around procedure. The airplane climbed to a height of 30 metres in an excessive nose-up attitude then stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a series of errors on part of the pilot-in-command who, following a downwind approach, initiated a go-around as the landing procedure was obviously missed. At that point, he increased the throttle too sharply while the stabilizers were not in the correct position, resulting in the aircraft entering an excessive nose-up attitude followed by an aerodynamic stall.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- No technical anomalies were found with the aircraft, its equipment or the engine;
- Wrong approach configuration;
- Incorrect actions during the go-around procedure;
- Lack of discipline;
- Overconfidence of the captain;
- Crew fatigue;
- Absence of a crew work conditions monitoring system.
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