Region
Europe

Crash of an Antonov AN-32B in Chişinău: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 2008 at 2217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-32
Operator:
Kata Air Transport
Registration:
ST-AZL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chişinău – Antalya – Khartoum
MSN:
30 09
YOM:
1992
Location:
Chișinău
Chișinău City District
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2668
Aircraft flight cycles:
1954
Circumstances:
Following a maintenance program in Chişinău, the aircraft was ferried back to Khartoum via Antalya. On board were four passengers, four crew members and a load consisting of 2 tons of oil and various equipments. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the transponder and was cleared for an immediate return. Too low on final approach, the aircraft struck the ILS antenna and crashed in a field located 200 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. All 8 occupants, among them 4 technicians, were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a premature descent on part of the crew, combined with an incorrect evaluation of the altitude while completing a visual approach by night. The crew had little experience with night flights, which was considered as a contributing factor.

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

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1996
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
ER-33647
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G233-37
YOM:
1989
Location:
Pelenia
Drochia
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched in Pelenia to conduct a local spraying mission. While flying at low height, it collided with power lines, lost height and crashed in a field. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with powerlines after the crew failed to comply with safety requirements.

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

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1975
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32477
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chirsova - Chirsova
MSN:
1G103-04
YOM:
1969
Location:
Chirsova
Găgăuzia Autonomous Territory
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5184
Aircraft flight cycles:
17551
Circumstances:
During a crop spraying flight for the kolkhoz (collective farm) "Mayak" at Chirsova (Comrat district of Moldova), the crew allowed two unauthorized passengers to board. In flight, both pilots got distracted while flying at a height of some 5-10 metres. The aircraft lost height and touched down in a maize field near Chirsova. The captain tried to take off again but the aircraft collided at a height of 3 metres with a warehouse 26 metres behind the field and later on with a power line, crashed, caught fire and burnt out. One of the 2 pilots and one of the 2 passengers were killed and both survivors were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after both pilots got distracted due to the presence of two unauthorized people on board. A low level of discipline allowed a series of infractions that led to the accident.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Glinoye: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1972 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-49306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chernivtsi - Odessa
MSN:
1G11-20
YOM:
1961
Location:
Glinoye
Edineț
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9044
Aircraft flight cycles:
33871
Circumstances:
On a flight from Chernivtsi to Odessa, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south by 15 km in poor visibility and rain. It entered an area near Glinoye (Grigoriopol district of Moldova) where two radio masts were located (only one of them was indicated on the charts, but with wrong coordinates). The pilot was able to avoid the first mast (350 meters) but not the second. At a height of 200 meters, the single engine airplane collided struck the second one (260 meters high), caught fire and crashed 280 meters further on in a field of the sovkhoz (state farm) Karmanovo. All 3 crew and the sole passenger were killed.
Probable cause:
Weather information transmitted to the crew did not reflect the reality and the pilot encountered low ceiling and low visibility due to rain falls. It was established that the antenna struck by the airplane was not properly marked and its coordinates were wrong as its real position was 35 km to the east.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10A in Chișinău

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11137
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
8 4 004 01
YOM:
1958
Location:
Chișinău
Chișinău City District
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Chișinău Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10A near Chișinău: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1970 at 2052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11188
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vinnitsa - Simferopol
MSN:
0 4 020 05
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU888
Location:
Chișinău
Chișinău City District
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
107
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
13868
Aircraft flight cycles:
9670
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 5,400 meters on a flight from Vinnitsa to Simferopol, the crew informed ATC that smoke spread in the cabin and was cleared to divert to Chișinău Airport. Few minutes later, the engine number four caught fire. The crew feathered its propeller when the oil pressure dropped and the propeller left the feather mode. Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the captain elected to make an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located 38 km north of Chișinău Airport and came to rest. The navigator, the radio operator, one flight attendant and 19 passengers were slightly injured while a passenger while killed. All other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of an hydraulic line in the engine number four during flight, causing the oil to spill and to catch fire. Poor engine maintenance.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10 in Chișinău: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1970 at 1149 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11149
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chișinău - Chișinău
MSN:
9 4 008 02
YOM:
1959
Location:
Chișinău
Chișinău City District
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
4641
Aircraft flight cycles:
11820
Circumstances:
The crew (seven pilots under supervision) and four instructors, were completing several training flight at Chișinău Airport. Following several manoeuvres, the crew initiated a new approach with both engines n°3 & 4 out of service. On final, the airplane banked left, lost height and crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flying techniques on part of the crew and wrong decisions taken during a missed approach under conditions that did not guarantee the continuation of the flight on two engines. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The approach speed and altitude were below the prescribed values for such manoeuvre,
- The decision of the instructor to initiate a go-around was too late,
- The action to increase power on both left engine was inadapted and insufficient according to the situation,
- The aircraft deviated from the approach path by 1,850 meters,
- The runway at Chișinău Airport was 2,000 meters long, which is insufficient for approach with two engines out,
- The crew failed to inform ATC he was completing an approach with two engines inoperative.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2SKh in Gӑvӑnoasa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1964 at 1532 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-43915
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cahul – Vulcӑneşti
MSN:
1113 473 07
YOM:
1959
Location:
Gӑvӑnoasa
Cahul
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3834
Circumstances:
On a positioning flight from Cahul to Vulcӑneşti after crop-spraying operations for the "Gigant" kolkhoz (collective farm), the intoxicated crew performed unauthorized manoeuvre. The aircraft lost speed, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located between Vladimirovca and Gӑvӑnoasa, some 2 km northwest of Gӑvӑnoasa and burnt out. All four occupants, two mechanics and two pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot intoxicated.
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