Simferopol | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Sochi-Adler Airport on a flight from Simferopol, the crew was cleared to descend to 1,200 m, 600 m and then 500 meters. Once this altitude was reached, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and the four engine aircraft went through a cloudy area when it struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located 21 km southeast of the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed and the debris were scattered on a distance of 300 m by 150 m. All 81 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the crew was following an approach route that was not used by ATC based at Sochi-Adler Airport. Investigations determined that the Sochi Airport authorities decided to change the approach pattern and procedures while this was not approved by Soviet State Aviation Authority. Also, the crews were no aware of these modifications.The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Poor coordination between State and Airport Authorities,
- Lack of visibility due to clouds,
- Lack of assistance on part of ATC,
- Inadequacies and wrong decisions on part of ATC,
- Lack of knowledge about the Sochi area,
- Lack of crew training in mountainous terrain.

Crash of an Avia 14P in Privetnoye: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1958 at 1647 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52024

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Baku – Sochi – Simferopol

MSN:

052 704 115

YOM:

Location:

Privetnoye

Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Country:

Ukraine

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1787

Circumstances:

The crew was flying at an altitude of 1,500 meters in VFR mode above the clouds when he received the permission by ATC to descent to 400 meters. While cruising in cloudy conditions at the altitude of 950 meters, the airplane hit tree tops, nosed down and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Privetnoye. The wreckage was spotted on the slope of Mt Kharpuzyany Kayas and all 12 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of ATC errors who failed to monitor the flight properly in reference to approach procedures, and allowed the crew to descent to an insufficient altitude. First, the crew was granted to fly at an altitude of 1,500 meters instead of the minimum 2,100 meters requested. Secondly, the ATC allowed the crew to descend to 400 meters although he knew the aircraft was flying in clouds and above a mountainous area.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Bryukhovetskaya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-F89

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Simferopol - Moscow

MSN:

9388

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Simferopol on a mail flight to Moscow, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, the pilot descended too low over terrain, causing the undercarriage to struck the ground. The airplane then hit two people working in the field and crashed 66 metres further, bursting into flames. Both passengers were seriously injured while the pilot and two people on the ground were killed. One of the passenger died from injuries sustained the following day.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued the flight at a too low (unsafe) altitude, causing the airplane to touch the ground and to crash.