Mezen | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Mezen to Gubistaya, carrying a load of fish. On approach to Gubistaya, weather conditions were poor and the visibility was reduced by fog. Despite the situation, the captain decided to land and continued the approach when the airplane hit trees and crashed. The captain was seriously injured and the copilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Misjudgment on part of the captain who decided to continue the approach in below minima weather conditions. According to procedures, the crew should return to Mezen.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Mezen

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2524

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Naryan-Mar

MSN:

22 154

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Arkhangelsk on a cargo flight to Naryan-Mar with an intermediate stop in Mezen, carrying a load consisting of cans of food for a total weight of 2,5 tons. Approaching the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls reducing visibility to 800 metres. Unable to establish a radio contact with the destination airport station, the captain asked the copilot to check the radio system. Doing so, the captain was distracted and lost visual references with the horizon. The airplane descended to the ground and crashed in a snow covered field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on approach after the pilot got distracted and lost his visual cues while discussing with the copilot concerning radio problems. The crew decided to continue the descent to the destination airport despite the airport radio station was unserviceable.