Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Piatigorsk

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01364
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G45-13
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the single engine airplane lost speed and crashed. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Yulovsky: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1979 at 0709 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-29391
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yulovksy - Yulovsky
MSN:
1G79-32
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
9081
Aircraft flight cycles:
27243
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a spraying mission on rice fields on behalf of the kolkhoz of Yulovky. Nine minutes after takeoff, while flying at an insufficient height, the crew lost control of the airplane that banked 30° to the left then plunged to the earth and crashed in a canal. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew got distracted for unknown reasons. It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 284 kilos above max gross weight at the time of the accident. Also, the passenger was not authorized to embark.

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

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1979 at 1907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-16021
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mingrelskaya - Mingrelskaya
MSN:
1G163-25
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
3648
Aircraft flight cycles:
14592
Circumstances:
The crew started at 0440LT in the morning a crop spraying mission on behalf of the kolkhoz of Abinsk. Fifteen rotations were successively completed until the lunchbreak. At 1820LT, the crew took off for a new series of four rotations. While no problems occurred during the first three rotations, the crew started the fourth rotation at an insufficient altitude. The pilot initiated a sharp turn to the right when the airplane banked right to an angle of 45° then nosed down and crashed in a field at a speed of 180 km/h. The copilot was seriously injured while the captain was killed. The copilot died from his injuries four hours later.
Probable cause:
The crew initiated the last rotation in a wrong configuration and it was determined that the distance between the aircraft and the ground during the last turn to the right did not allow the crew to correct the situation and avoid the impact with the ground.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2T in Petropavlovsk

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1979 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-44920
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk - Petropavlovsk
MSN:
1G24-20
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at the airport, the single engine airplane was stolen in the early morning by a drunk pilot. After takeoff, while flying at low height over the city, the pilot initiated a sharp turn to the left when the aircraft struck a pillar. Out of control, it nosed down and crashed against the facade of an office building. Upon impact, the pilot was ejected and was slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control at low height after collision with obstacles. Pilot intoxicated.

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

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1979 at 1217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70619
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dovorets - Dovorets
MSN:
1G128-28
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5439
Aircraft flight cycles:
15928
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission for the kolkhoz of 'Rodina' located in Dovorets, in the region of Novgorod. After completing 15 rotations, the crew departed for a new spraying flight when, at a height of 20 meters, the single engine airplane struck power cables located 1,600 meters from the village. It crashed 636 metres further and caught fire. Both pilots were seriously injured and evacuated to a local hospital. The copilot died few hours later and the captain a day later.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Tyumen

Date & Time: May 31, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65649
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tyumen - Tyumen
MSN:
0 35 10 04
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
12295
Aircraft flight cycles:
7789
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Tyumen-Roshchino Airport and successively completed four touch-and-goes at a relative high speed. On approach with flaps down at 15-20°, the airplane landed at high speed. Upon touchdown, the right rear tyre located on the left main gear burst. Debris punctured a hydraulic line, causing the landing gear to be partially retracted. A fire erupted in the wheel well and the airplane came to rest on runway. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Four landings at high speed were completed, causing some tyres to be damaged. One of them burst upon touchdown and debris punctured a hydraulic line, causing the left main gear to collapse partially.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Ufa: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1979 at 1626 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35595
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ufa - Ufa
MSN:
1G115-46
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
6282
Aircraft flight cycles:
17563
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight before completing a crop spraying mission. Following a running distance of 250-280 meters on takeoff, the pilot-in-command started the rotation. Unable to maintain a positive rate of climb, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed upside down 78 meters further in a field, about 1,037 meters after the start of the take off run. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft at takeoff was 779 kilos above the MTOW. Following a too short takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command rotated prematurely. Due to an insufficient speed, the airplane was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb and a correct climb path.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Orenburg

Date & Time: May 24, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70555
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G127-23
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a field near Orenburg. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred because the pilot-in-command got distracted.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Nizhneudinsk

Date & Time: May 22, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09165
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G20-08
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an engine failure. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Ufa

Date & Time: May 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65839
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Ufa - Chisinau
MSN:
18117
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
83
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
9994
Aircraft flight cycles:
6113
Circumstances:
The final approach was completed by night with the wheel brakes locked. Upon touchdown, all tyres exploded. The left main gear broke off, causing the left wing to struck the ground. A fuel tank was punctured and the aircraft caught fire. Out of control, it veered off runway to the right and came to rest in flames. All 89 occupants survived, 10 of them, including two crew members, were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Poor approach planning on part of the flying crew who failed to follow the approach checklist and completed the landing procedure with the wheel brakes locked.