Rostov-on-Don

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lipetsk – Rostov-on-Don – Mineralnye Vody

MSN:

9 41 10 33

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

SU1255

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

124

Aircraft flight cycles:

111

Circumstances:

After a roll of 1,040 meters on the wet runway 03, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure but the remaining distance was 40 meters only. Unable to stop on a so short distance, the airplane overran and collided with an embankment 185 meters further, hit a hammock, broke up and came to rest in a ravine. The flight mechanic was killed while 18 other occupants were injured. 19 others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to takeoff from an inadequate runway for such type of aircraft (too short runway). Poor flight preparation as the V1 & V2 speed were not verified and properly calculated prior to takeoff. Other factors were considered as contributing such as aircraft weight, wet runway and weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Rostov-on-Don: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1974 at 2142 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46277

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rostov-on-Don - Ufa

MSN:

77303610

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

11277

Aircraft flight cycles:

10750

Circumstances:

Following a heavy maintenance program at the Rostov-on-Don Manufacture Plant, the aircraft was on its way back to Ufa, carrying a crew of four. The departure from Rostov Airport was initiated at night and poor visibility due to thick fog. After a normal takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation at a speed of 200 km/h and continued to climb in zero visibility. At an altitude of about 220 meters, a first turn to the left was initiated when the airplane rolled left to an angle of 25-30°. At a speed of 325 km/h, flaps were selected up when inconsistent actions occurred between the PIC and the copilot. The copilot elected to reduce the roll to acceptable values, as a result, the rudder trim was positioned to the right hand limit but the airplane seems to become unstable. At this time, the crew reduced the engine operation to nominal values when the noticed a discrepancy between the readings of the left and right artificial horizons. The crew tried to determine which artificial horizon gives the wrong readings when the airplane entered a left turn and crashed at a speed of 430 km/h in an open field located 1,750 meters past the runway end, 17 seconds after liftoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control that occurred during initial climb was the result of an anomaly in the Captain's artificial horizon, either because of a misreading on his part or because of a problem with the power supply system. Investigators stated that the accident occurred through visibility below minimums and that the crew's decision to fly by night under such conditions was unjustified. Also, it was noted that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and that he precipitated the departure, which remains a contributing factor insofar as certain procedures were neglected.

Emergency landing of an Ilyushin II-18B in Rostov

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75727

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Almaty – Karaganda – Rostov-on-Don – Simferopol

MSN:

18000 23 03

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On the leg from Karaganda to Rostov-on-Don of a flight from Almaty to Simferopol when probably the autopilot system failed while the aircraft was flying at a height of 7,800 metres by night. The aircraft banked to the left, entered a dive and was recovered by the crew at a height of some 5,000 metres. The crew managed to land safely at Rostov-on-Don, but the aircraft suffered structural damage during the dive with up to 3.5 g forces, and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties. SOC 29sep71 as worn out.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight caused by a probable failure of the autopilot system.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124 in Lihovka Zapolishki: 37 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1970 at 1537 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-124

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45012

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mineralnye Vody - Rostov-on-Don - Vilnius

MSN:

1 35 04 02

YOM:

1961

Flight number:

SU3630

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7504

Aircraft flight cycles:

6996

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rostov-on-Don Airport at 1455LT and reached the assigned altitude of 8,400 meters at 1514LT. At this time, ATC instructed the crew to climb to 9,000 meters due to traffic ahead. The new altitude of 9,000 meters was reached two minutes later at 1516LT. While cruising in good weather conditions, the crew sent a brief message and mentioned the number '45' followed by a long pause. A second message was heard on the frequency with the number 'zero' then a third message with the pilot shouting the number '12'. Then the contact was definitely interrupted and the airplane entered a dive. During the descent, it reached the speed of 950 km/h and banked left to an angle of 75° before crashing in a cornfield located about 90 km from Dniepropetrovsk and 57 km from Krementchug. At impact, the airplane caused a huge crater and the accident was not survivable.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the following facts were reported:
- There was no in-flight collision,
- There was no in-flight fire prior to impact,
- No military operations were in place in that area at the time of the accident,
- Both engines were turning at idle at impact.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Rostov

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1970

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-41398

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

1G67-16

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff from an airfield located in the region of Rostov and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

The crew forgot to extend the flaps in an appropriate position for the takeoff procedure, causing the aircraft to stall at liftoff.

Crash of an Avia 14P in Zaporozhie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52002

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tbilisi - Rostov-on-Don - Zaporozhie

MSN:

018 602 111

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

SU2903

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

21213

Aircraft flight cycles:

22259

Circumstances:

The descent to Zaporozhie Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions but with a visibility estimated to 4 km, above the minima. On final approach, the airplane was not properly aligned on the glide and the captain failed to follow the instructions transmitted by ATC and the warnings from his navigator. Eventually, while at an altitude of 40 meters, he elected to make a go around, increased engine power and started a turn to the right but it was too late. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located short of runway. A crew member and six passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The captain started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the glide at an insufficient altitude. He neglected several procedures, ATC instructions and other crew members warning until the airplane struck the ground and crashed. Poor flight crew coordination and communication was considered as a contributing factor. Weather conditions were marginal with limited visibility but above the minima.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124 in Volgograd: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1968 at 1021 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-124

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45019

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Volgograd – Rostov-on-Don

MSN:

2 35 05 04

YOM:

1962

Flight number:

SU3153

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Volgograd Airport, after a course of 1,000 meters and while at a speed of 260 km/h, the captain attempted to rotate and pulled the control column. In the same time, he mistakenly pushed the spoiler switch for a period of three seconds. After rotation, the aircraft climbed to a height of 10-15 meters and flew for a distance of about 400 meters then banked left and struck the ground. Upon impact, the left wing was torn off and the airplane crashed in a grassy area and came to rest, broken in three. The wreckage was found 83 meters to the left of the runway and 1,640 meters from the runway threshold. 44 people were evacuated safely while four others were seriously injured, among them the copilot, the board mechanic and the board agent. The radio navigator was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the spoiler switch was inadequately placed on the steering column of the aircraft, allowing the pilot to activate the switch inadvertently prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V in Kuybyshev: 30 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1965 at 1135 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-124

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45028

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kuybyshev – Rostov-on-Don – Sochi

MSN:

2 35 08 03

YOM:

1962

Flight number:

SU513

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1612

Aircraft flight cycles:

1151

Circumstances:

Less than one minute after its takeoff from Kuybyshev Airport, while climbing to a height of 40-50 meters, the airplane stalled then banked left and crashed in a snow covered field located 2,300 meters past the runway end. All nine crew members and 16 passengers were killed while 14 others were seriously injured. Few hours after the crash, five of the survivors died from their injuries. At the time of the accident, the pilot-in-command was under training with an instructor (right seat).

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, it is believed the loss of control was caused by the dysfunction of the attitude indicator that was probably not fully operational as the accident occurred less than two minutes after the engines have been started. The assumption that water went through the ADI, causing it to fail.

Ground accident of a Lisunov LI-2 in Voronezh

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1956 at 1321 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4869

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: