Leningrad | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed in unknown circumstances (shot down?) in the area of Leningrad. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Wolfgang Hübel, pilot,
Fw Siegfried Partelt, radio operator,
Uffz Bernhard Sundermann, observer,
Uffz Hans Thown, air gunner.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Nevskaya Dubrovka

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1941

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3412

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moscow - Leningrad

MSN:

03 2 6

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Moscow-Vnukovo Airport on a flight to Leningrad, carrying four passengers, five crew members and a load of 1,650 kilos of various goods. Approaching Leningrad from the east, the airplane was hit by the Soviet Flak and the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crashed 2,5 km further and was damaged beyond repair. All nine occupants evacuated, among them both pilots were injured.

Probable cause:

Mistakenly shot down by the Soviet Flak.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41bis in Oktyabrskaya: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1941 at 1505 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3505

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Leningrad - Moscow

MSN:

2/300

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

260

Circumstances:

Prior to takeoff from Leningrad, the pilot was informed about weather conditions and instructed to fly not above 600 metres. The airplane departed Leningrad Airport at 1320LT on a mail flight to Moscow with two crew members on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was forced to return due to an oil leak on the right tank. After repairs, the airplane took off again at 1435LT. The pilot continued at an altitude of 500-600 metres when the airplane entered clouds. Due to turbulence, the pilot decided to climb until 2,500 metres then 3,000 metres. Later, while descending, the airplane' speed increased from 270 km/h to 400 km/h and it became unstable. The flight engineer has been shaken from left to right and tried to get a radio contact with the pilot. As this was unsuccessful, he abandoned the airplane and bailed out. He was later found uninjured. The airplane continued its descent and the pilot also attempted to bail out but this was too late. His parachute failed to open in time and he was killed. The airplane crashed in a wooded area located in Oktyabrskaya, some 100 km east of Leningrad and was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who disregarded the instructions related to the max altitude to respect and his decision to fly against the published procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Novgorod: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1936 at 1425 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1781

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Novgorod – Leningrad

MSN:

7617

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Novgorod Airport at 1410LT on a flight to Leningrad, carrying one pilot and one passenger, a fire inspector. At the time of departure, weather conditions were as follow: horizontal visibility 1,500 - 2,000 metres, vertical visibility 150 - 170 metres and wind 2-3 m/s. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and according to the engine noise, it is understood that the airplane was not flying in the direction of Leningrad but Kresttsy instead. Nevertheless, the pilot apparently attempted to return to the airport when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed one km from the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in clouds. His decision to takeoff in clouds and without received a weather bulletin prior to departure are considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Povarovo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1934 at 0446 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1502

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moscou – Leningrad

MSN:

7322

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Moscow Airport at 0420LT on a night mail flight to Leningrad. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated with low ceiling and intermittent snow falls. While cruising at a height of 100 metres, the airplane entered a right turn, descended to the ground and crashed 2 km from the Poverovo Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident resulted from a loss of control in flight followed by a ground impact with an engine running normally at impact.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor preparation for a night flight in difficult flying conditions due to low ceiling and snow falls;
- The pilot was unfamiliar with the Moscow - Leningrad route;
- Poor flight planning;
- The airspeed indicator only worked intermittently;
- Weather conditions deteriorated significantly during the flight.

Crash of a Junkers F.13 in Estonia

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Junkers F.13

Operator:

Registration:

URSS-308

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Berlin - Leningrad

MSN:

730

YOM:

1923

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area somewhere in Estonia. The aircraft named 'Koenigsadler' broke in two and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.