Sochi | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Orenburg, the aircraft dropped below the glide path and the crew did not take the decision to attempt a go around. The three engine aircraft hit the ground 68 meters short of runway threshold with a positive aerodynamic force of 3 g, bounced and touched down again 635 meters further. On the second touchdown, the positive aerodynamic force was 3,9 g, causing the aircraft to brake in two. The airplane went out of control and eventually came to rest. Two crew members and one passenger were injured.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to follow the approach checklist and published procedures. A series of errors and omissions on part of the flying crew led the aircraft descending below the glideslope and despite several alarms sounded, the captain failed to attempt a go-around manoeuvre. An inappropriate usage of approach charts, stabilizers at -5,5°, flaps at 45° and procedures violation caused the airplane to follow a wrong approach path. Also, the controller in charge of the approaches cleared the crew to land in lieu of giving the instruction to initiate a go-around.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV off Anapa: 52 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1976 at 1351 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46518

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Gomel - Donetsk - Sotchi

MSN:

37308504

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU7957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6107

Aircraft flight cycles:

4626

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing the second leg from its Gomel - Donetsk - Sochi flight in limited visibility due to cloudy conditions when, at an altitude of 5,700 metres, it collided with an Aeroflot Yakovlev Yak-40. Registered CCCP-87772, the Yak was flying from Rostov-on-Don to Kerch with 18 people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the Black Sea about 37 km south of Anapa. Both aircraft sank by a depth of about 500 metres and none of the 70 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

The in-flight collision was the consequence of mistakes committed by the air traffic controller in charge of the western sector of the Krasnodar area who violated the published procedures and failed to provide the minimum separation of 600 meters required for both aircraft prior to transfer them to the Anapa sector. The lack of visibility due to significant cloud cover was considered as a contributing factor, as well as poor ATC coordination between various sectors.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Moscow: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1969 at 2031 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75708

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sochi - Moscow - Norilsk

MSN:

189 0017 05

YOM:

1959

Flight number:

SU1770

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12023

Aircraft flight cycles:

4367

Circumstances:

On final approach to Moscow-Vnukovo, the flying crew was not concentrated and failed to lower the landing gear. The aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. Forty people were uninjured, 46 were wounded and 16 passengers were killed after the aircraft caught fire due to hydraulic leak and an electrical short-circuit in the cargo compartment.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and forgot to lower the undercarriage. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Several propeller blades detached while contacting the runway surface, causing severe damage to the fuselage,
- A fire erupted following an electrical short-circuit in the cargo hold combined with a hydraulic leak,
- Lack of coordination on part of the cabin crew who failed to follow the safety and evacuation procedures,
- Lack of efficiency and assistance on part of the ground firefighters who arrived on the scene 15-20 minutes after the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10A near Sochi: 81 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1962 at 1541 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-10

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-11186

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lviv – Simferopol – Sochi

MSN:

0 4 020 03

YOM:

Flight number:

SU415

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1358

Aircraft flight cycles:

1059

Circumstances:

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 an Ilyushin II-12 off Tuapse: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1951 at 1532 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-12

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1811

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Moscow – Krasnodar – Sochi

MSN:

9 301 33 10

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1346

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Krasnodar Airport at 1505LT bound for Sochi, carrying six crew members, two passengers and a load of mail for a total of 1,007 kilos. Twenty-one minutes later, the crew obtained the permission to descend visually to 1,800 meters and then 600 meters. While cruising at an altitude of 900 meters off Tuapse, the aircraft went into clouds when it was struck by lightning. Out of control, it dove into the Black Sea and crashed about two km off the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs' rest house located in Tuapse. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and sank by a depth of 55 meters. Some debris were found 3 to 4 weeks later, nobody survived.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was struck by lightning while flying in an area with thunderstorm activity. Lightning struck the left rear fuel tank and an explosion occurred while contacting fuel vapors. For unknown reason, the crew has not been informed about the presence of thunderstorm and lightning in the region of Tuapse.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Matsesta: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1943 at 0135 LT

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3909

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sochi - Sochi

MSN:

184 11 15

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Sochi-Adler at the end of the afternoon on a supply mission to the soldiers based in Crimea. While approaching Crimea, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and all three targets were inaccessible. In such conditions, the captain decided to return to Sochi were the weather conditions worsened so it was not possible to land. The crew diverted to Sukhumi where the landing was refused so to the captain eventually took the decision to return to Adler Airport. On approach by night, at a height of 500 meters, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located 16 km north of the airport, near Matsesta. All six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew attempted to land at Sochi-Adler in below-minima weather conditions.

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 Kalinin K-4 off Sochi: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Kalinin K-4

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-217

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

108

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sochi Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea about 200 metres offshore. Two passengers and the pilot were rescued while three other occupants were killed, among them Red Army Commander J. Fabritsius.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot failed to position the stabilizer that was still in landing position.

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