Yanaul | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On the leg from Kazan to Sverdlovsk, while cruising at an altitude of 400 meters in clouds, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and decided to divert to the Yanaul Airport, in the Republic of Bashkortostan. On final approach, the pilot in command started a go around for unknown reason. While completing a steep turn at low height, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a meat processing plant. All five crew members and five passengers were killed while two other passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on the airplane and that its performances were reduced. Also, the weather briefing transmitted to the crew was not reflecting the truth, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Kazan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1935 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1057

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sverdlovsk – Yanaul – Kazan – Moscow

MSN:

6259

YOM:

1933

Location:

Kazan

Republic of Tatarstan

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Sverdlovsk Airport on a mail/cargo flight to Moscow with intermediate stops in Yanaul and Kazan. After passing the night in Yanaul, he departed Yanaul bound for Kazan. Upon arrival, weather conditions worsened with limited visibility due to fog. At a height of about 70-80 metres on approach, the airplane collided with a 105 metres high radio antenna. The left fuel tank was punched and a fire erupted. The airplane continued for a distance of 200 metres then crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a collision at low altitude and in poor visibility with the mast of a radio antenna.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Marginal weather conditions at destination with 8-10 octas at 300-600 metres altitude, wind from the south at 15-25 km/h, fog with 500 metres visibility,
- The pilot was cleared for takeoff despite the weather conditions at destination were considered as poor,
- The pilot has not been informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination,
- The pilot was freshly licensed, inexperienced and flew this route for the first time,
- The pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude of 100 metres.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Ananino: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Kalinin K-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L544

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Yanaul – Sverdlovsk

MSN:

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Yanaul at 1000LT on a schedule service to Sverdlovsk. En route, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was very low due to thick fog. Approaching the village of Ananino, the airplane passed over houses at a height of about 4 metres. Then the pilot initiated a turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field outside the village. The airplane was destroyed and the mechanic was killed. Seriously injured, the pilot was transferred to a local hospital but he died few hours later.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a stall during a turn initiated at low height because the airplane' speed was too low. The Chief of the Yanaul Airport authorized the pilot to start the flight despite the weather conditions en route were considered as poor. Also, the weather bulletins transmitted to the crew were incorrects and conflicting.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Kontuganovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1933 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Kalinin K-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L463

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Sverdlovsk – Yanaul – Kazan

MSN:

267

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

232

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Sverdlovsk Airport at 1440LT on a flight to Kazan with an intermediate stop in Yanaul, carrying two passengers and two crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 800 metres, weather conditions worsened with snow showers. The captain reduced his altitude to 300 metres when he encountered blizzard conditions. He eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing near the village of Kontuganovo. While circling at a height of about 50 metres, the left wing impacted a tall tree and the airplane crashed. All four occupants were injured, two seriously. Few hours later, the captain died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the weather bulletin transmitted to the crew prior to departure was not relevant and was reporting local rain showers only. The pilot attempted an emergency in a hilly terrain in very limited visibility.