Region
Asia

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Kutaisi: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1985 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87803
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tbilisi – Kutaisi – Poti
MSN:
9 23 09 23
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU07G
Location:
Kutaisi
Imereti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
According to published procedures, the crew was supposed to climb to an altitude of 2,400 meters after takeoff from Kutaisi Airport. But due to an Aeroflot Antonov AN-24 that was approaching another airport in Kutaisi, the crew was instructed by ATC to maintain the altitude of 300 meters after departure. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to switch from VFR to IFR mode when, in restricted visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 47 km west of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a poor ATC assistance and radar coverage of the region as well as a lack of ATC coordination in the Kutaisi Airport area control center. At the time of the accident, ATC was unaware of the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions. Lack of discipline, poor work organization and procedures violation were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Tbilisi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65807
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tbilisi - Batumi - Kiev - Leningrad
MSN:
3352108
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU6833
Location:
Tbilisi-Shota-Rustaveli (ex Novo Alekseyevka)
Tbilisi City District
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
13273
Aircraft flight cycles:
10506
Circumstances:
En route from Tbilisi to Batumi, while in cruising altitude, seven hijackers (young Georgian people) elected to divert the aircraft to Turkey. Hijackers opened fire in the cabin and cockpit but the copilot was able to make sharp maneuvers, forcing the hijacker to leave the cockpit. The crew was able to return to Tbilisi Airport where security forces stormed the aircraft. Seven occupants, three crew members and four passengers (among them three hijackers) were killed. At least 63 bullets holes were found in the fuselage and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to serious deformation of the structure caused by excessive g loads during an emergency descent.
Probable cause:
Structural damages caused by excessives g loads and bullets holes due to hijacking situation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Mestia

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-05667
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
156 473 06
YOM:
1958
Location:
Mestia
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered severe atmospheric turbulences. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in an open field. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Let L-410M in Poti: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1983 at 1518 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-67190
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Poti - Sukhumi
MSN:
78 11 19
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
SU070G
Location:
Poti
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3206
Aircraft flight cycles:
6096
Circumstances:
14 seconds after liftoff from runway 10 at Poti Airport, while climbing to a height of 60 meters at a speed of 195 km/h, both engines lost 60% of power. While the power on the left engine increased to 94,5% 11 seconds later, the power on the right engine dropped to zero. The crew elected to feather the right propeller but this was not possible. The airplane lost height, started a descent and slightly turned to the right when, at a speed of 130 km/h, it struck 20 meters high trees and crashed in a wooded area located 450 meters past the runway end. Two pilots and four passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the malfunction of the right engine was the consequence of a short-term failure of the rotor speed regulator, which forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller. For unknown reasons, the propeller could not be feathered, causing drag that reduced the aircraft's speed and necessitating an emergency landing.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Sukhumi

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1982 at 1809 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65836
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sukhumi - Moscow-Vnukovo
MSN:
17113
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SU974
Location:
Sukhumi-Babushara
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
17003
Aircraft flight cycles:
10406
Circumstances:
At 1808LT, the crew was cleared for takeoff from Sukhumi-Babushara runway 02. During the takeoff run, 26 seconds after it started to roll, at a speed of 195 km/h, the crew sighted a Let L-410M entering the runway. Registered CCCP-67191, the Let L-410 was engaged in a scheduled service (flight SU73G) to Kutaisi with two pilots and nine passengers on board. The captain of the Tupolev decided to abandon the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Spoilers were deployed and revers systems were activated. He elected to turn to the left to reach an exit taxiway. In the same time, the crew of the Let saw the Tupolev coming from their right and increased engine power to move forward. Seven seconds after the crew of the Tupolev rejected takeoff, at a speed of 216 km/h, the right wing of the Tupolev struck the Let that was destroyed upon impact. The Tupolev rolled for about 514 meters then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 48 meters to the left of its centerline. All 82 people on board the TU-134 escaped uninjured while all 11 people on board the Let were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a series of errors made by the crew of the Let L-410 who failed to follow ATC and ground controllers instructions regarding taxiing procedures prior to takeoff, which led them to enter the runway when he was not authorized to do so. A poor management in flights organization at Sukhumi Airport remains a contributing factor as well as few procedures violation on the part of ATC and ground controllers, among others concerning the use of a non-standard phraseology which may create confusion to the crew.

Crash of a Let L-410M in Sukhumi: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1982 at 1809 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-67191
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sukhumi - Kutaisi
MSN:
78 11 20
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
SU73G
Location:
Sukhumi-Babushara
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
2738
Aircraft flight cycles:
4098
Circumstances:
The Let L-410 departed the terminal and was approaching the runway to depart for a schedule service to Kutaisi, carrying nine passengers and a crew of two. At 1808LT, the crew of an Aeroflot Tupolev TU-134 registered CCCP-65836 was cleared for takeoff from runway 02. En route to Moscow-Vnukovo, the Tupolev was carrying 76 passengers and a crew of six. During the takeoff run, 26 seconds after it started to roll, at a speed of 195 km/h, the crew of the TU-134 sighted a Let L-410M entering the runway. The captain of the Tupolev decided to abandon the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Spoilers were deployed and revers systems were activated. He elected to turn to the left to reach an exit taxiway. In the same time, the crew of the Let saw the Tupolev coming from their right and increased engine power to move forward. Seven seconds after the crew of the Tupolev rejected takeoff, at a speed of 216 km/h, the right wing of the Tupolev struck the Let that was destroyed upon impact. The Tupolev rolled for about 514 meters then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 48 meters to the left of its centerline. All 82 people on board the TU-134 escaped uninjured while all 11 people on board the Let were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a series of errors made by the crew of the Let L-410 who failed to follow ATC and ground controllers instructions regarding taxiing procedures prior to takeoff, which led them to enter the runway when he was not authorized to do so. A poor management in flights organization at Sukhumi Airport remains a contributing factor as well as few procedures violation on the part of ATC and ground controllers, among others concerning the use of a non-standard phraseology which may create confusion to the crew.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Eldari: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1981 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01867
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Eldari - Eldari
MSN:
1 153 473 07
YOM:
1960
Location:
Eldari
Kakheti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
9653
Aircraft flight cycles:
35750
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a spraying mission in the region of Eldari and arrived on March 13. No flight was scheduled on March 14 so the crew decided to perform engine tests. The captain asked the copilot to give up his seat to the mechanic for the purpose of the engine test run. Three unauthorized passengers from a local farm embarked and the captain decided to takeoff despite poor weather conditions (visibility below minimums). The single engine aircraft took off at 1228LT with flaps down at 20°. During initial climb, at a height of about 25-30 meters, the airplane entered a right turn then lost height and crashed in a field located 600 meters from the point of departure. A passenger was killed while five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the captain decided to initiate a local test flight without a copilot in poor weather conditions (fog down to 50 meters and horizontal visibility down to 300 meters) without prior permission and with unauthorized passengers on board. In limited visibility, the airplane banked to the right to an angle of 30° and an excessive correction from the pilot-in-command caused the aircraft to be uncontrollable, to lose height and to crash.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Pskhu: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1978 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pskhu - Sukhumi
MSN:
1G84-06
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU302G
Location:
Pskhu
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
8782
Aircraft flight cycles:
11072
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed the grassy runway at Pskhu Airport at 0925LT on a regular schedule service to Sukhumi and the crew was cleared to climb to 2,100 meters. About 15 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,450 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Dzishra (2,623 meters high) located 6 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined by the fact that the aircraft was totally consumed by fire. Nevertheless, a high concentration of carbon monoxide was found in both pilots blood and it is believed it may be the consequence of smoke spreading in the cabin due to a fire in a hand luggage containing films or a possible electrical short-circuit. The assumption that the loss of control was also the consequence of an in-flight collision with a flock of birds that struck the windshield and injured both pilots was not ruled out.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Tbilisi

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87544
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ulyanovsk - Volgograd - Tbilisi
MSN:
9 53 09 42
YOM:
1975
Location:
Tbilisi-Shota-Rustaveli (ex Novo Alekseyevka)
Tbilisi City District
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Volgograd to Tbilisi, while flying by night, both primary and emergency hydraulic systems failed. Only the nose gear could be lowered while stabilizers and flaps remained in neutral position. The aircraft landed on its belly at a speed of 250 km/h and the nose gear touched down 1,264 meters past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran at a speed of 165 km/h, struck the localizer antenna, a concrete wall and came to rest in a ravine, broken in three. All 30 occupants were injured, three of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Failure of both primary and emergency hydraulic systems in flight after some water that mistakenly leaked in a tank due to a seal problems froze.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV off Sukhumi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1977 at 2139 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46847
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sukhumi - Kirovograd
MSN:
27307505
YOM:
1972
Location:
Sukhumi-Babushara
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
5698
Aircraft flight cycles:
16941
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight from Kirovograd to Sukhumi and back to Kirovograd. Following a night takeoff from Sukhumi-Babushara Airport, while climbing at an altitude of 120 meters and a speed of 250 km/h, the crew raised the flaps when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it struck at a speed of 370 km/h the water surface and crashed into the Black Sea about 690 meters offshore. A crew member was rescued while six other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and sank.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation was not ruled out.
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