Rostov-on-Don | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the final approach to Kharkiv-Osnova Airport completed by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot-in-command descended too low when he saw a railway. To avoid any collision with the electric poles, he attempted a turn to right when the aircraft stalled and crashed nose first in a garden located near houses, 2,300 meters short of runway and 150 meters to the right of its extended center line. A passenger was seriously injured while 15 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew adopted a wrong approach configuration and that both engine were running at idle when the pilot wanted to avoid obstacles. Poor approach techniques on part of the flying crew and against the published procedures according to the weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DL on Mt Guram: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L924

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tbilisi – Rostov-on-Don

MSN:

9429

YOM:

1943

Location:

Mt Guram

Republic of North Ossetia

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1864

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Tbilisi Airport, the crew decided to modify his route without any coordination with ATC. Shortly later, while flying over the Caucasian mountains in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Guram. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Rostov, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was located by walkers on July 20, 1947, at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off track by 93 km relating to the flight plan that was filed. The accident resulted in a controlled flight into terrain as the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain range in poor visibility.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Tsymlyanskaya: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-K287

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tsymlyanskaya - Rostov

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Tsymlyanskaya Airfield, en route to Rostov, the airplane climbed to a height of about 20-30 metres. The pilot initiated a turn to the left when the airplane stalled, collided with a fence an crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured and the pilot died six days later from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Rostov-on-Don: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3515

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Meteorological / Weather

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Rostov-on-Don - Rostov-on-Don

MSN:

8/214

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rostov-on-Don Airport at 0602LT on a meteorological mission over the area. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 metres, the crew encountered an unexpected situation with the right engine. Following the advice from the mechanic, the pilot shut down the right engine then decided to return to Rostov Airport. On final approach on one engine, the airplane' speed dropped to 150 km/h then it stalled and crashed 2 km from the runway threshold. The pilot and the mechanic were injured and the meteorologist was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot shut down the right engine at the altitude of 5,000 metres upon the advice of the mechanic despite all technical parameters were correct. During the final approach, he led the airplane' speed dropped at a too low speed, causing the airplane to stall at a height of 20-25 metres.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Stavropol: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3405

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rostov-on-Don – Mineralnye Vody

MSN:

84 4

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Rostov-on-Don to Mineralnye Vody, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. In an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Stavropol. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Novoe Selo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1940 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3523

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rostov-on-Don – Sochi – Sukhumi – Kutaisi – Tbilisi

MSN:

16/214

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rostov Airport at 1500LT on a mail flight to Tbilisi with intermediate stops in Sochi, Sukhumi and Kutaisi. About 50 minutes into the flight, while cruising in stormy weather, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field at a speed of 600-700 km/h. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-40 near Napareuli: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1938 at 0515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2446

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tbilisi – Rostov-on-Don – Moscow

MSN:

8/95

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Tbilisi at 0442LT on a cargo flight to Moscow with an intermediate stop in Rostov with three crew members on board. 33 minutes into the flight, radio contact was lost after the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located 22 km north-northeast of Napareuli. As the airplane failed to arrive in Rostov, SAR operations were initiated. On 28 October 1938, the wreckage was found by two locals in a ravine. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The direct cause of the accident was the pilot's violation of §53 of the Flight Manual (leaving the route). According to the conclusion of the Main Inspectorate of ATC, the main cause of the crash was Aeroflot's insistence on a one-day flight, which the Head of the Georgian ATC did not protest, not taking into account the time of year and overestimating the qualities of the pilot, who had insufficient training on this type of aircraft. The responsable of the accident is the Head of the Main Directorate of Civil Aviation, who organized the unnecessary high-speed flight and committed a number of violations of the Flight Manual. Another person responsible for the crash was the head of the Georgian Air Traffic Control Directorate, who had released the plane in unstable weather conditions and had no radio navigation equipment on the route. The detection of the aircraft near Telovo can be attributed to wind drift in the absence of radio navigation facilities, rather than being deliberate.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Mineralnye Vody: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1936 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1706

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mineralnye Vody – Rostov-on-Don

MSN:

9460

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

839

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Mineralnye Vody Airport on a cargo flight to Rostov-on-Don. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 25 metres, he initiated a turn to the right when the airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the pilot precipitated the takeoff procedure to allow another plane to depart immediately behind him. It was established that the airplane rolled for a distance of 620 metres only prior to rotation and that its speed during the first turn was insufficient, causing it to stall.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Kuschevka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1934 at 0640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1528

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mineralnye Vody – Armavir – Rostov-on-Don

MSN:

7952

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Mineralnye Vody on a mail flight to Rostov with an intermediate stop in Armavir. Following technical problems and due to marginal weather conditions, the pilot was forced to pass the overnight in Armavir. The pilot departed Armavir at 0510LT bound for Rostov. While approaching Kuschevka, he encountered foggy conditions and decided to make a 180 turn. Doing so, and apparently while trying to establish a visual contact with the ground, the airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of an impact with the ground following a loss of altitude in reduced visibility due to fog.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot made the decision to continue the flight through fog and did not make the decision early enough to turn back;
- A sudden formation of fog;
- The weather station of Kushevka had issued a timely warning bulletin but this was transferred too late to the airport of Armavir after being blocked for almost two hours at the telegraph office of Rostov.

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