Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Shaki: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1974 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07294
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Shaki - Shaki
MSN:
1G148-55
YOM:
1973
Location:
Shaki
Shaki-Zaqatala
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
358
Aircraft flight cycles:
1351
Circumstances:
At 1850LT, an intoxicated pilot departed Shaki Aerodrome with seven passengers also under influence of alcohol. He flew to the northwest along a mountain range then completed a low pass over the city of Zaqatala where his wife was leaving then returned to Shaki. While approaching Shaki, the visibility was poor due to the night and the pilot was unable to locate the runway. He elected to land several times when the airplane struck the ground and crashed about 800 meters from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Analysis revealed that the pilot was severely intoxicated by alcohol at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Nukha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1964 at 1323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-54818
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Byelokany – Zaqatala – Nukha – Baku
MSN:
184 352 02
YOM:
1950
Flight number:
A-4
Location:
Shaki
Shaki-Zaqatala
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
12589
Circumstances:
The takeoff from Nukha Airport was started from a snow covered runway (compacted snow) with snow showers and cross winds. After a roll of 124 meters, the tail wheel lifted off when the left main gear struck an irregularity on the runway surface. Instead of abandoning the takeoff procedure, the captain continued and elected to takeoff quickly. He pulled the control column to rotate but the aircraft's speed was too low. The airplane took off but in stall conditions, it bounced several times then rolled down into a ravine and came to rest by the Gurdzhanachay River, some 900 meters past the runway threshold. The copilot was killed and 21 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The takeoff procedure was started from a contaminated runway (compacted snow) and with lateral winds up to 5 meters per second. When an emergency situation occurred (left main gear impact), the captain failed to abandon the takeoff manoeuvre and elected to rotate with an insufficient speed, which caused the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 near Shaki: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1938 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L190
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yevlakh – Shaki – Zagatala
MSN:
191
YOM:
1934
Location:
Shaki
Shaki-Zaqatala
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Shaki on a cargo flight from Yevlakh, the airplane entered an area of fog. The pilot elected to return when the airplane impact the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot violated several rules of the air manual.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Lack of discipline at the airport of Yevlakh,
- The aircraft was 250 kg overweight at the time of the accident.
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