Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Leningrad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1973 at 1506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42505
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leningrad – Moscow
MSN:
0 2 19 03
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU2420
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
51
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
17095
Aircraft flight cycles:
10698
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Leningrad-Shosseinaya Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 7,800 meters, a stewardess informed the cockpit crew about a passenger who wanted to fly to Stockholm and was carrying a pistol and a hand grenade. After entering the cockpit, the hijacker stand by the flight engineer. The crew returned to Leningrad-Shosseinaya and on final approach, while at a height of 120-140 meters, the captain asked the copilot to lower the gear. When the hijacker realized they were flying back to Leningrad, he unpin the grenade that exploded in the cockpit, causing a huge hole in the fuselage. The hijacker and the flight engineer were killed while both pilots were slightly injured. 30 seconds later, the pilots were able to land the airplane at a speed of 310 km/h. After touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several dozen meters before coming to a halt. All 55 other occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was not repaired.
Probable cause:
Hijacked after takeoff and severely damaged by the explosion of a grenade and the failure of the nose gear after landing.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Leningrad: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1970 at 1637 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75773
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leningrad - Yerevan
MSN:
181 0036 03
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
SU3012
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
13760
Aircraft flight cycles:
6733
Circumstances:
The takeoff from Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport was performed in low clouds and snow falls. After liftoff at a speed of 250 km/h, the airplane climbed to a height of 30-50 meters when it adopted an excessive nose-up attitude and banked left and right. In a high angle of attack, it continued on a distance of 5,300 meters when it lost height, causing the base of the tail to struck the ground. Out of control, it crashed at a speed of 200 km/h in a snow covered field, rolled for about 210 meters and came to rest 290 meters to the right of the extended centerline. Five crew members and a policeman, Major by the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Armenia were killed while 26 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. 54 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Due to poor flight preparation and lack of coordination, the crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and failed to deploy the flaps prior to departure, according to the published procedures. It appears that the crew precipitated the takeoff manoeuvre, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Leningrad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1970 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-21504
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leningrad - Minsk - Kiev
MSN:
2 34 416 10
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
7123
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Leningrad to Kiev with an intermediate stop in Minsk-1, carrying a load of 1,151 kg of glue. Following a normal takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation at a speed of 130 km/h. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft had a tendency to veer left so the pilot compensate to the right when the tail wheel struck the ground 35 meters to the left of the runway and was torn off. The airplane continued for dozen meters then crashed into the snow some 245 meters to the left of the runway. All six occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Few hours later, the radio operator died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft by 687 kilos. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The rotation was completed at an insufficient speed considering the total weight of the aircraft,
- The airplane was trimmed 3° down prior to takeoff,
- The CofG was far aft,
- The copilot and the flight engineer were overduty,
- Reception, delivery and loading of cargo were made by the copilot and the flight engineer which adversely affected their working capabilities during takeoff.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14FK in Leningrad: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1960 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-91610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad - Leningrad
MSN:
1480 019 43
YOM:
27
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
1709
Circumstances:
The crew departed Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport at 0947LT for a local training mission. At this time, weather conditions were poor with low clouds down to 200 meters, mist and a visibility less than 5 km. Thus, the crew was instructed to complete the training mission in the vicinity of the airfield. At the beginning of the afternoon, ATC authorized the crew to continue the mission and while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that went into a dive. After crossing the last cloud layer, the pilot elected to regain control but it was too late. The airplane crashed and exploded in a field located in Dachnoe, less than a km north of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them three pilots, four instructors and two passengers.
Probable cause:
The loss of control occurred while the crew was simulating the failure of the right engine in cloudy conditions. Most probably due to successive errors, or maybe due to a spatial disorientation that affected the pilot-in-command, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. The pilot elected to regain control after passing the last cloud layer (200 meters from the ground) but the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient. The presence of two civilians on board was against the published regulation.

Crash of a Douglas TS-62 in Skvoritsy: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1952 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1055
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad – Minsk
MSN:
16973/34233
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
SU381
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
4042
Circumstances:
The TS-62 took off from Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport and its crew received the permission to climb to the altitude of 2,700 meters via the corridor number two. While climbing into clouds, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12 that was approaching the same Airport. Inbound from Minsk, the II-12 was registered CCCP-L1328 and was carrying 19 passengers and a crew of five. Its pilot obtained the permission from ATC to descend to the altitude of 1,200 meters via the same corridor number two. At the altitude of 1,200 meters, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near the village of Skvoritsy, about 23 km southwest of Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport. Both wreckage were found 1,200 meters from each other and all 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was caused by an error on part of the ATC services. Despite the fact that both aircraft were tracked on radar screens, ATC based at Leningrad-Shosseïnaya Airport failed to take appropriate actions to ensure a minimum safe separation between both airplanes and failed to realize that they were flying in the same corridor in an opposite direction and at the same altitude. Investigations revealed that the collision was the result of successive errors on part of the ATC who failed to ensure an efficient radar surveillance and transmitted to both crews inappropriate instructions that led both aircraft on the same track.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Skvoritsy: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1952 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1328
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minsk – Leningrad
MSN:
30 054
YOM:
30
Flight number:
SU376
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
2283
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport and obtained the permission by ATC to descend to the altitude of 1,200 meters via corridor number two. While flying into clouds, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Douglas TS-62 registered CCCP-L1055 that was performing flight SU381 to Minsk with seven people on board. It just took off from the same airport and its crew received the permission to climb to the altitude of 2,700 meters via the same corridor number two. At the altitude of 1,200 meters, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near the village of Skvoritsy, about 23 km southwest of Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport. Both wreckage were found 1,200 meters from each other and all 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was caused by an error on part of the ATC services. Despite the fact that both aircraft were tracked on radar screens, ATC based at Leningrad-Shosseïnaya Airport failed to take appropriate actions to ensure a minimum safe separation between both airplanes and failed to realize that they were flying in the same corridor in an opposite direction and at the same altitude. Investigations revealed that the collision was the result of successive errors on part of the ATC who failed to ensure an efficient radar surveillance and transmitted to both crews inappropriate instructions that led both aircraft on the same track.