Moscow-Vnukovo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow - Simferopol

MSN:

0 2 16 03

YOM:

1960

Flight number:

SU773

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height, banked right 90° then struck power cables and crashed in a field located 10 km south of the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 25 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that an explosive device composed by 400 to 800 grams of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploded approximately 7 to 15 seconds after rotation. The bomb was apparently placed in a hand baggage placed on the cabin floor, maybe under the seat number 45. The detonation ruptured the cabin floor, the left root and the control cables were cut and inoperative. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and lost several pieces at an altitude of 200 meters before striking the ground. Despite extensive investigations that will end in 1973, the Soviet authorities wont be able to identify the author of this act of sabotage.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Moscow: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1969 at 2031 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75708

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sochi - Moscow - Norilsk

MSN:

189 0017 05

YOM:

1959

Flight number:

SU1770

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12023

Aircraft flight cycles:

4367

Circumstances:

On final approach to Moscow-Vnukovo, the flying crew was not concentrated and failed to lower the landing gear. The aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. Forty people were uninjured, 46 were wounded and 16 passengers were killed after the aircraft caught fire due to hydraulic leak and an electrical short-circuit in the cargo compartment.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and forgot to lower the undercarriage. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Several propeller blades detached while contacting the runway surface, causing severe damage to the fuselage,
- A fire erupted following an electrical short-circuit in the cargo hold combined with a hydraulic leak,
- Lack of coordination on part of the cabin crew who failed to follow the safety and evacuation procedures,
- Lack of efficiency and assistance on part of the ground firefighters who arrived on the scene 15-20 minutes after the accident.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Moscow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1967 at 0328 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75563

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow - Moscow

MSN:

184 0078 02

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2264

Aircraft flight cycles:

929

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow-Domodedovo, the crew was supposed to complete a positioning flight to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport on behalf of the 235th Separate Aviation Detachment for the Soviet Government. Less than two minutes after takeoff from Domodedovo Airport, while climbing by night, the pilot-in-command started a turn to the left according to published procedures when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located about 3 km past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris scattered on a distance of 650 meters long by 180 meters wide. All eight crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determined the exact cause of the accident. All four engines were functioning properly at impact and some vibrations may have occur on both wings, maybe following ailerons issues.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124 in Leningrad

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1963 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-124

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45021

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tallinn – Moscow

MSN:

2 35 07 01

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Tallinn-Ülemiste Airport at 0855LT, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that could not be raised properly. As there was fog in Tallinn, the crew decided to divert to Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport. The airplane arrived over Leningrad at 1100LT and the crew was authorized to following a holding circuit at an altitude of 500 meters. During the eight circuit, while the fuel jauges indicates a quantity of 750 liters remaining, the left engine stopped. The crew received the permission to land when the right engine failed as well. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on the Neva River. On touchdown, the aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest near the riverbank. All 52 occupants were evacuated safely and only two occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and later used for ground training.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines due to a fuel exhaustion caused by an excessive consumption due to the fact that the flight from Tallinn to Leningrad was performed with the undercarriage down. It was also noted that the settings belonging to the fuel jauges failed to reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor. Also, the crew failed to manage the emergency situation properly.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B near Chebotovka: 59 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1961 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75654

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moscow – Sochi

MSN:

188 0005 03

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

SU245

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2722

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 meters in good weather conditions, the four engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and reached an angle of 107° and a speed of 630 km/h before crashing in a snow covered field located 10 km east of Chebotovka, in the Rostov region. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 59 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of an error on part of the flight mechanic who inadvertently positioned the flaps in an angle of 40° while in cruising flight. This reduced the longitudinal stability and the control was rapidly lost. It was reported that the flap lever was not protected against accidental actuation which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Riga

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75653

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow – Riga

MSN:

188 0005 02

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Riga Airport was completed in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions. The aircraft landed long and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a field located 200 meters from the Daugava River. All six crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18 in Bogoroditsk

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75672

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moscow – Sochi

MSN:

189 0009 01

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 6,100 meters on a flight from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport to Sochi-Adler Airport, the generator on engine number three failed. Debris punctured a hydraulic line and the fluid caught fire while in contact with high temperature elements of the engine. As the fire extinguishing system failed to work properly, the crew decided to shut down all three other engines and completed a gear up landing in a field. The airplane slid for several yards and came to rest. All 97 occupants were evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

Failure of the generator on engine number 3 for unknown reason. This caused the rupture of a hydraulic line and the fluid caught fire while contacting engine elements. The reason of the dysfunction of the fire extinguishing system remains unknown.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Moscow: 28 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1959 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-41806

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Baku – Makhatchkala – Astrakhan – Stalingrad – Moscow

MSN:

6 34 17 09

YOM:

Flight number:

SU200

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4945

Circumstances:

On approach to Moscow-Vnukovo, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with clouds and limited visibility. By night, the aircraft passed below the glide until it struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,400 meters short of runway 02 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and only one passenger survived. Among those killed were the Russian composer Sergei Artyomevich Agababov aged 32.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of poor approach techniques on part of the flying crew who allowed the aircraft to descent below the glide in poor visibility until the airplane struck obstacles. Following factors were considered as contributory:
- The crew was tired and failed to observe a sufficient rest time,
- At the time of the accident, the crew was on duty since 13h50 with 5h53 cumulated flying hours,
- The pilots performances were diminished by fatigue and work overload,
- The copilot's experience was insufficient,
- Poor visibility due to the night and a cloud layer down to 60 meters from the ground.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Moscow

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75676

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: