Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P in Postavy

Date & Time: May 29, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35188
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G114-12
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Postavy Airfield, the crew was distracted and did not realize that the approach speed was too low. The aircraft stalled and hit an embankment located short of runway threshold before coming to rest. The aircraft was written off while all five occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Crew distraction.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Koptevka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1977 at 1629 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01637
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Koptevka - Koptevka
MSN:
1G82-31
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
7005
Aircraft flight cycles:
27737
Circumstances:
The crew completed several spraying missions that day on behalf of the sovkhoz of Koptevsky. At the end of the afternoon, the crew took off and after departure, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left when the airplane banked left to an angle of 60° then stalled and crashed in flames in an open field located 4 km northwest of Koptevka. The copilot was killed while the captain was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The captain died from his injuries seven days later.
Probable cause:
Hazardous manoeuvres after takeoff on part of the pilot-in-command who completed a turn over the tolerated 30° bank. Fatigue was considered as a contributing factor as well as the fact that the copilot was intoxicated with a level of 0,9‰.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Vitebsk: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pskov - Vitebsk
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The approach to Vitebsk was initiated in icing conditions when the crew lost control of the airplane that lost height, struck power cables and crashed in flames in an open field. Five passengers survived while 26 other occupants were killed. The airplane was enroute from Pskov to Vitebsk, carrying officers taking part to an exercise.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of ice on wings, stabs and all fuselage while completing an approach in severe icing conditions while the different deicing systems had apparently not been switched ON by the crew.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Mostki: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1969 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-96175
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rekta - Rogin
MSN:
1G71-08
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
2524
Aircraft flight cycles:
1020
Circumstances:
On an unauthorized flight from Rekta (Zhlobin district of the Gomel region) to Rogin (Buda-Koshelyovo district of the Gomel region) at night during crop-spraying operations for the sovkhoz (state farm) "Rogin", the intoxicated crew performed hazardous manoeuvres at low height when the aircraft hit tree tops at a height of 15-17 metres, crashed 1.8 km from Mostki (Rogachov district of the Gomel region), caught fire and burnt out. Both pilots and all three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Intoxicated pilot.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124 in Minsk

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45017
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Minsk
MSN:
1 35 05 02
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Moscow, the pilot-in-command completed the landing at Minsk-Loshitsa Airport (Minsk-1). After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to a halt. While there were no injuries among the occupants, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Varkhi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1965 at 1410 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45218
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gorodok - Gorodok
MSN:
1G44-07
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local crop-spraying mission on behalf of the kolkhoz of Mayakovskogo. The crew left Gorodok (Vitebsk voblast) and approaching Varkhi, he made a sharp turn to the right at low height when the right wing hit telephone cables and the airplane crashed. Both pilots were seriously injured while the passenger, an agronomist, was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was intoxicated after he drank too much vodka and wine.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14P in Brest: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41866
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Moguilev – Minsk – Brest
MSN:
1460 007 04
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
SU607
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
6363
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Minsk Airport at 1245LT bound for Brest. While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the crew noted that the oil temperature on the right engine increased while the temperature of the second breech dropped. In such situation, the captain decided to shot down the right engine, feathered its propeller and continued to Brest. At 1405LT, he notified his situation to ATC and started the descent to Brest Airport in marginal weather conditions. On final approach, at an altitude of 40 meters, the undercarriage and flaps were lowered when the captain was instructed to go around. For unknown reason, he continued the approach and the right main gear touched down 390 meters past the runway threshold. The left main gear touched down 73 meters farther and after a course of 930 meters, the airplane overran and collided with the ILS antenna before coming to rest in flames. All 21 passengers were injured while five crew members were seriously wounded. The board mechanic died from his injuries five hours later. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The right engine has to be shut down in flight because of the failure of the second cylinder due to a manufacture defect. Following poor techniques on part of the captain, the approach configuration on one engine was wrong and the third turn on final was completed too late. Marginal weather conditions, a wet runway surface and a limited visibility were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Minsk: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1960 at 0032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01405
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leningrad – Vilnius – Minsk – Lviv
MSN:
83012902
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
SU414
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
13706
Circumstances:
After a course of 750 meters at Minsk Airport, the pilot-in-command completed the rotation. Due to an insufficient speed, the airplane climbed with a high angle off attack and was quite immediately in a nose high attitude and in stall conditions. The airplane struck the ground four times then hit power cables before crashing on a truck parking lot. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members and four passengers were killed. The rest of the occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the flying crew who started the rotation at an insufficient speed, causing the aircraft to be in a high angle of attack and in stall conditions immediately after liftoff. The fact that the runway was soggy was considered as a contributing factor because this slow down the airplane during the takeoff procedure to due an excessive accumulation of water on the lower part of the wing, reducing the aerodynamic capabilities.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Vitebsk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vitebsk - Vitebsk
MSN:
8 9 002 02
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, both right engines number three and four failed. Simultaneously, the rudder went to a full left position when the crew attempted to rotate. The aircraft lifted off and then banked right, causing the right wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and eventually came to rest in flames, upside down, some 160 meters farther. Six crew members were killed while the gunner was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of both right engines number three and four due to a short-circuit in a terminal strip. For unknown reason, the crew failed to feather the propeller on both right engines.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Minsk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1948 at 0920 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1017
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minsk – Moscow
MSN:
16394/33142
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
3163
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered a landing mishap last December 4 when the right main gear partially collapsed on landing. Temporary repairs were made at Minsk and on December 30, the crew was instructed to position to Moscow for further maintenance. Shortly after takeoff from Minsk Airport, while climbing to a height of some 50 meters, the aircraft entered clouds, banked to the right, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 2 km northwest of the airport. A crew member was injured while three others were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Any relation with the mishap that the aircraft suffered on December 4 could not be proven. The assumption that the pilot in command suffered a spatial disorientation could not be ruled out.