Poti | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

According to published procedures, the crew was supposed to climb to an altitude of 2,400 meters after takeoff from Kutaisi Airport. But due to an Aeroflot Antonov AN-24 that was approaching another airport in Kutaisi, the crew was instructed by ATC to maintain the altitude of 300 meters after departure. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to switch from VFR to IFR mode when, in restricted visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 47 km west of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a poor ATC assistance and radar coverage of the region as well as a lack of ATC coordination in the Kutaisi Airport area control center. At the time of the accident, ATC was unaware of the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions. Lack of discipline, poor work organization and procedures violation were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Let L-410M in Poti: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1983 at 1518 LT

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-67190

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Poti - Sukhumi

MSN:

78 11 19

YOM:

1978

Flight number:

SU070G

Location:

Poti

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Country:

Georgia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3206

Aircraft flight cycles:

6096

Circumstances:

14 seconds after liftoff from runway 10 at Poti Airport, while climbing to a height of 60 meters at a speed of 195 km/h, both engines lost 60% of power. While the power on the left engine increased to 94,5% 11 seconds later, the power on the right engine dropped to zero. The crew elected to feather the right propeller but this was not possible. The airplane lost height, started a descent and slightly turned to the right when, at a speed of 130 km/h, it struck 20 meters high trees and crashed in a wooded area located 450 meters past the runway end. Two pilots and four passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the malfunction of the right engine was the consequence of a short-term failure of the rotor speed regulator, which forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller. For unknown reasons, the propeller could not be feathered, causing drag that reduced the aircraft's speed and necessitating an emergency landing.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP off Cape Tsikhisdziri: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1966 at 1003 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-96224

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Batumi - Poti - Sukhumi

MSN:

1G72-08

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

G-72

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

327

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Batumi to Sukhumi with an intermediate stop at Poti. Ten minutes after take off from Batumi Airport, while cruising at a height of 250 meters some two km offshore, the engine failed. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft into the Black Sea near a fishing vessel some 1,8 km off Cape Tsikhisdziri. A passenger was killed while all 11 other occupants were rescued and picked up by the crew of the fishing vessel. The aircraft sank and the wreckage was recovered from a depth of some 34-36 meters on 14SEP1966.

Probable cause:

Engine failure due to problems with the magnetos.