Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Oymyakon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1961 at 1912 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-16154
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Oymyakon – Zyrianka
MSN:
36 05
YOM:
1947
Location:
Oymyakon
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Zyrianka with an intermediate stop at Oymyakon, carrying two passengers, a crew of four and a load of 2,253 kilos of potatoes. While cruising at an altitude of 1,600 meters in clouds, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located 95 km west of Oymyakon. The wreckage was found two days later in an isolated area. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the procedures in flight and failed to pay attention to the fuel selector that was switched to an empty tank, causing both engines to stop. There was fuel remaining in other tanks but the crew failed to switch the fuel selector in due time. Due to fuel exhaustion, both engines failed and the airplane went out of control while flying in autopilot in clouds.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Khandyga: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1952 at 0814 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4602
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Khandyga – Allaikha
MSN:
46 07
YOM:
0
Location:
Khandyga
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2284
Circumstances:
On the leg from Yakutsk to Khandyga of a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Allaikha when the favorable weather forecast turned out not to be in line with reality. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path due to strong winds, entered clouds and crashed at a height of some 1,200 metres into the northwestern slope of the first mountain of the Verkhoyanski khrebet ridge located some 95 km northwest of Khandyga and fell down into a ravine about 120 meters further on. All 4 crew were killed. The wreckage was found eight days later, on 11 of May.
Probable cause:
The weather report transmitted to the crew before departure did not reflect the reality and the weather conditions were worse than predicted. Nevertheless, the crew failed to demonstrate discipline and mismanaged the flight properly and according to the published procedures.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Namtsev: 20 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1951 at 0426 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4228
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Vilyuisk
MSN:
18421601
YOM:
1945
Location:
Namtsev
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
4429
Circumstances:
On a flight from Yakutsk to Vilyuisk when the crew selected fuel supply from the left rear tank but forgot to switch to another tank when the left rear tank ran empty. Both engines stopped 31 minutes into the flight so the crew tried to make an emergency landing in the valley of the river Taras located near Namtsev, about 90 km north of Yakutsk. Unfortunately, the crew set the propellers on high pitch and lowered the landing gear too early so the aircraft did not make it to the valley, stalled and crashed into a wooded area some 200 meters from an open area. All 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to poor management of the fuel supply system on part of the crew. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Poor flight organization,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Several wrong decisions were taken by the flying crew during flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Yakutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1951 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N566
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1 09 473 01
YOM:
1951
Location:
Yakutsk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
400
Circumstances:
After takeoff from an area located along the Lena River, in the region of Yakutsk, while climbing to a height of 50-60 meters, the single engine aircraft banked left to 65° and nosed down to 25° then plunged into the Lena River about 200 meters offshore. All four crew members were able to evacuate the cabin but only three reached the shore as the flight engineer was drowned.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by locked ailerons. The crew failed to prepare the flight properly and started the takeoff procedure with locked ailerons.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Vilyuisk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1951 at 0702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4314
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vilyuisk - Yakutsk
MSN:
18427409
Location:
Vilyuisk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Vilyuisk Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew was able to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller and decided to return to the airport for a safe landing. After completing a circuit, the airplane was approaching the airfield when it stalled and crashed in a field. Two passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after liftoff due to a technical problem on the regulator. However, it was determined that the crew failed to take the appropriate actions and due to a lack of coordination, completed the approach in a wrong configuration with a too low speed, causing the aircraft to stall. A recovery was impossible due to an insufficient distance between the airplane and the ground. It appears that the captain and the second pilot who was acting as an instructor on this flight and was seating in the right seat did not have sufficient skills to operate in such situation with one engine inoperative.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200C Condor in Yakutsk

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1950 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N500
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
0199
Location:
Yakutsk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
318
Circumstances:
After touchdown in Yakutsk Airport, the airplane skidded and veered off runway to the right, lost its left main gear and completed a spin before coming to rest. While all nine occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to severe damages on both left engines and the left wing as well. At the time of the accident, a crosswind of 18 km/h was blowing over the airport.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Kirensk: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1949 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4464
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Kirensk
Location:
Kirensk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 1,300 meters in poor weather conditions, the crew started the descent to Kirensk despite the fact that he was unaware of his real position. While descending into clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 117 km east of Kirensk. The wreckage was found few hours later and ten survivors (three crew members and seven passengers) were evacuated while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the aircraft was off track by 70 km to the southeast at the time of the accident due to a navigational error on part of the crew. It was reported that this navigational error was caused by poor piloting methods on part of the crew who decided to start the descent to Kirensk without knowing his exact position. The lack of visibility due to clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Berdigestyakh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943 at 0520 LT
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3913
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Olyokminsk
MSN:
184 12 04
YOM:
1941
Location:
Berdigestyakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On a flight from Yakutsk to Olyokminsk, while cruising at a height of some 150 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snowfalls. Shortly later, both engines lost power and the aircraft lost height, hit trees and crashed in a wooded area. Three crew members were killed, another crew member and one passenger were injured while six other passengers were unhurt. One of them left the area to find help. 11 days later, rescuers arrived on scene to evacuate the seven other survivors.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the dual engine failure was not determined with certainty. However, it is believed it was caused by the fact that the carburetor failed due to icing or the crew (captain or flight engineer) failed to activate the carburetor heating system. It was also reported that the decision of the captain to fly at low altitude was wrong and, at the time of the accident, the flight engineer was intoxicated.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 off Churan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1941 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1478
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Churan - Yakutsk
MSN:
3166
Location:
Churan
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The floatplane was departing Churan on a service to Irkutsk, carrying seven passengers and a crew of four. Shortly after takeoff from the hydrobase of Churan, while climbing to a height of 10-12 metres, the floatplane entered a high angle of attack, pitched up then the left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed into the Lena River. While all four crew members were able to evacuate the cockpit and to swim to shore, all seven occupants drowned after the airplane sank.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to position correctly the stabilizers prior to takeoff and his failure to reject the takeoff procedure while the aircraft was unstable.
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