Vitim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Despite poor weather conditions, the crew decided to takeoff from Peledui at 1805LT. Two minutes and 30 seconds later, he realized that weather conditions were worse than predicted. In below-minima weather conditions (snowfall and poor visibility), the crew encountered white-out conditions when the aircraft struck the snow-covered surface of the frozen Lena river located 7.5 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest upside down. Both pilots and both passengers were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The crew's decision to initiate a flight in below-weather conditions (white-out conditions) under VFR mode.

Crash of an Avia 14 in Vitim: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52096

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Vitim - Irkutsk

MSN:

086 806109

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

SU002B

Location:

Vitim

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20464

Aircraft flight cycles:

20467

Circumstances:

The takeoff was attempted from a dirt runway with puddles. After a course of 345 meters, the pilot-in-command started the rotation and the nose gear left the ground. 150 meters further, the right main gear struck two cones located on the right side of the runway. The airplane went off runway then took off after a course of 945 meters. During initial climb, after a course of 200 meters and at an altitude of 14 meters, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. A passenger was injured while 39 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The crew attempted to takeoff from an impassable runway with a tailwind component.

Crash of a Douglas TS-62 near in Vitim: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1950 at 0812 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L862

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Irkutsk – Kirensk – Olyokminsk – Yakutsk

MSN:

12136

YOM:

1943

Flight number:

SU543

Location:

Vitim

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3686

Circumstances:

En route from Kirensk to Olyokminsk, the left engine caught fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude but the fire spread to the wing and reached the cabin via the heating system. Descending to an altitude of 2,000 meters, the left engine separated from the aircraft and the aircraft later crash landed in a field located 29 km southwest of Vitim and came to rest in flames. All four crew members and six passengers were able to escape while ten passengers were killed, apparently intoxicated by smoke.

Probable cause:

The cause of the in flight fire on the left engine could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the fire was caused by the failure of a connection on the fuel line was not ruled out. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- the cabin crew failed to us the fire extinguisher, and also failed to close the heating system valve, which contributed to the quick propagation of the fire into the cabin,
- the captain decided to perform a steep descent that also contributed to the fire's propagation,
- the entire crew failed to give appropriate instructions to passengers prior to and after the accident, and failed to assist them for a safe evacuation, causing the death of 10 women and children.