Verkhnyaya Salda | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew attempted to takeoff from an airstrip located at Indra Lake bound for Verkhnyaya Salda with the MTOW exceeded by 170 kg and the center of gravity being out of the envelope (too far aft). With an intoxicated captain and an intoxicated passenger at the controls (the 2nd pilot was in the passenger cabin), the aircraft stalled at a height of some 15 metres, crashed, caught fire and burnt out. One pilot and nine passengers were killed. The aircraft was owned by the MOM – Ministerstvo Obshchestvo Mashinostroyeniya – Minobshchemash and operated by the NIITP (Nauchno-Issledovatelskom Institute Teplovykh Protsessov), the Research Institute for Thermal Processes.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The total weight of the aircraft was in excess of 170 kg to the MTOW,
- The CofG was too far aft and out of the envelope,
- The captain and the second pilot (a passenger) were intoxicated.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Verkhnyaya Salda: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1954 at 1305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-I403

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Verkhnyaya Salda – Sverdlovsk – Omsk

MSN:

184 24 03

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9816

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Verkhnyaya Salda Airport, while climbing to a height of 30-40 meters, both engines failed almost simultaneously. The airplane stalled, hit power cables and eventually crashed in flames in a field located 1,500 meters past the runway end. Three crew members and a passenger were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The crew was completing a cargo flight from Verkhnyaya Salda to Omsk with an intermediate stop in Sverdlovsk on behalf of the Ministry of Aviation Industry (MAP - Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti).

Probable cause:

It was determined that both engines failed due to a fuel exhaustion. Investigations confirmed that the fuel selector was connected to the left rear fuel tank that was empty. At the time of the accident, one of the passenger was seating at the copilot seat, against the published procedures. Also, it appears that most of the crew members were intoxicated, which was considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Verkhnaya Salda

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-I530

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

184 77 10

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3121

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight for the Ministry of Industry and Aviation (MAP – Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti or Minaviaprom). En route, the crew was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing in a field for unknown reason. While there were no injuries, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Beloyarsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1949 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-I511

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Verkhnyaya Salda – Oufa

MSN:

7658

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3325

Circumstances:

The crew left Verknyaya Salda in the morning on a cargo flight to Ufa. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was reduced by snow falls. As the crew did not have the appropriate charts for the region, he obtained the assistance of the ATC and was vectored to Tyumen Airport. Few minutes later, while cruising at an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters, the central engine lost power and failed. Shortly later, both other engines (left and right) lost power and produced black smoke. In such conditions, the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude and the captain decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 14 km north of Mezenka. Four crew members were injured while the captain was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that all three engines lost power and eventually failed due to an excessive accumulation of wet snow in the carburetor and the air intake.