Kazakhstan

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-35577

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Osinovka – Almaty

MSN:

1G115-28

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1870

Circumstances:

While on a positioning flight from Osinovka-Andreyevka to Almaty for crop-spraying operations for the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Andreyevski' with 2 mechanics and 2 local guides on board, the captain decided not to circumvent the Chubundy (Shybyndy) mountain ridge but to make a straight-in flight. Few minutes later, he encountered below-minima weather conditions and decided to return to Andreyevka but this was too late. Shortly later, while completing a turn in clouds at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the single engine airplane collided with the summit of a ridge located about 15 km northeast of Andreyevka Airport and crashed. Injured, the copilot walked down the mountain to find help. The captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain caused by wrong in-flight decisions on part of the captain.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Semipalatinsk: 32 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1973 at 1859 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87602

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Semipalatinsk-Ust-Kamenogorsk

MSN:

9120118

YOM:

1971

Flight number:

SU167X

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1798

Aircraft flight cycles:

1814

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Semipalatinsk Airport, while climbing to a height of 100 meters, the airplane lots height then struck the ground in a relative flat attitude and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field located 1,457 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 32 occupants were killed, among them 11 female members of the Kyzylorda Basketball Team accompanied by their coach and one judge.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Eyewitnesses among them the air traffic controller working in the tower saw a huge flash in the sky prior to the accident. Various analysis did not find any trace of explosives.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Shieli: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1973 at 1610 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-70737

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kyzymshek – Shulakkurgan – Shymkent

MSN:

1G130-38

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a flight from Kyzymshek to Shymkent with an intermediate stop in Shulakkurgan. Prior to leave Shulakkurgan, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions en route and the captain request for another itinerary. He was cleared by ATC to take another route to the west but few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to return. While cruising in low clouds and rain showers, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain at an altitude of 454 meters and located in the Karamuryn Mountain Range. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the burnt wreckage was found two days later about 35 km northeast of Shieli. All 13 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain in below-minima weather conditions. The captain decided to conduct the flight in poor weather conditions and failed to return, violating all procedures in place. ATC cleared the crew to take another route to the west which was also irresponsible and the meteorologist published bulletins with inaccurate information as weather conditions were worse than predicted. Mismanagement of flight, poor organization of operations and poor decisions made by the various actors involved in the organization of the flight were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Semipalatinsk

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-33233

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G57-36

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew decided to land on an unsuitable site located near Semipalatinsk and the aircraft suffered an accident while trying to takeoff from that site. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1972 at 0732 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46652

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Astrakhanka - Astrakhanka

MSN:

1G47-21

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5289

Aircraft flight cycles:

12844

Circumstances:

During a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz (state farm) of "Pervomaiski" located in the Astrakhanka district of the Tselinograd region, the airplane went out of control while completing a right turn at low height, stalled and crashed in flames. The captain was killed while the copilot was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of the rupture of the right-hand rudder control cable.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Kyzylorda

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-35313

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kyzylorda - Kyzylorda

MSN:

1G134-06

YOM:

1972

Location:

Kyzylorda

Country:

Kazakhstan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a crop-spraying flight, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field near Kyzylorda. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by the distraction of the flying crew.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Kazalinsk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1969 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-43847

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Aralsk – Amanutkul – Raym – Oktyabr – Kazalinsk – Frunze – Kaukey – Azhar – Kyzylorda

MSN:

1 67 473 14

YOM:

1956

Flight number:

SU643

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

10570

Circumstances:

The airplane arrived in Kazalinsk at 1020LT and 12 passengers embarked. The aircraft was fully booked and ready for departure when the captain accepted, against retribution, that 12 additional passengers (11 adults and one infant) embarked as well. Some 120 kilos of cargo and 120 kilos of additional baggage were also loaded. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 meters, the airplane adopted a high angle of attack when the tail stalled. Out of control, the airplane crashed 65 meters to the left of the main runway. 25 passengers were injured while one child was killed. A day later, two passengers died from their injuries and two other passengers died few days later. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.

Probable cause:

The decision of the captain to embark 12 additional passengers was criminal and against all published procedures. Neither the copilot nor the Airport Manager complained about this decision. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 6,484 kilos, some 1,234 kilos above the MTOW, taking into consideration the actual flying conditions. Also, the CofG was far aft and well outside the envelope, which caused the airplane to stall from the tail during initial climb. All additional passengers did not have safety belt.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Otar: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1969 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-09193

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Otar - Otar

MSN:

1G21-01

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4585

Aircraft flight cycles:

12119

Circumstances:

On an unauthorized pleasure flight during crop-spraying operations for the kolkhoz (collective farm) im. Kalinina in the Kurdai district of the Dzhambul region, the intoxicated pilot performed unauthorized manoeuvres at low height. He eventually lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located 1,500 meters from Otar. The pilot and all 6 passengers were killed.

Probable cause:

Intoxicated pilot.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24 in Almaty: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1969 at 0637 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46751

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: