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 an Ilyushin II-12P in Magdagachi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1828
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Magdagachi – Khabarovsk
MSN:
9 301 34 15
YOM:
24
Flight number:
SU554A
Location:
Magdagachi
Amur oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
8489
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Magdagachi Airport in marginal weather conditions: broken at 600 meters, few clouds at 330 meters, rain showers and 3 km visibility. The captain descended successively to 700, 400 and 100 meters then adopted a high rate of descent of 10-11 meters per second. The copilot suggested to abandon the landing for a go around procedure but the captain continued the approach when the airplane struck approach lights and crashed short of runway threshold. The flight engineer was killed while all other occupants were injured, the copilot seriously.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach techniques on part of the captain who demonstrated a lack of discipline.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Magdagachi: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1953 at 2155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1367
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Magdagachi – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30 090
YOM:
31
Flight number:
SU005
Location:
Magdagachi
Amur oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
4204
Circumstances:
During a final approach completed by night and marginal weather conditions, the airplane hit tree tops located 5,620 meters short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the left wing was sheared off and the airplane crashed 358 meters farther in a dense wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was approaching Magdagachi Airport at an insufficient altitude following a wrong altimeter setting on part of the flying crew.

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.
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