Region
Asia

Crash of a Let L-410M in Belgorod: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1979 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-67210
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Belgorod - Belgorod
MSN:
76 05 13
YOM:
1976
Location:
Belgorod
Belgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
252
Aircraft flight cycles:
485
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and two student pilots) were completing a local training mission at Belgorod Airport. They departed Belgorod at 1020LT and completed several circuits over the region. While approaching the airport with the right engine out, the crew lost control of the airplane that entered a right turn then spiraled into the ground and crashed in a snow covered field located near the outer marker. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed. Weather conditions were marginal at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
Due to the extensive destruction of the aircraft, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, it is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by wrong informations provided by the horizons while on approach in poor weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Chersky: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1978 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26547
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chersky - Zyrianka
MSN:
57302810
YOM:
1975
Location:
Chersky
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Chersky to Zyrianka, carrying two loadmasters, five crew members and a load consisting of eight wooden copper coils. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 200 km/h, the pilot-in-command started the rotation (the rotation speed was calculated at 215 km/h). The airplane rotated and continued to climb until the altitude of 150 meters when it entered stall conditions. It turn to the right and crashed in a huge explosion on an hotel located near the airport. The aircraft and the hotel were totally destroyed by a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the stall and subsequent loss of control during initial climb was caused by the cargo shifting. Investigations revealed that the wooden copper coils were not properly installed and secured in the cabin but only fixed with the onboard winch cable. At liftoff, the wooden copper coils moved to the rear of the cabin, causing the CofG to be out of the enveloppe and the aircraft to be uncontrollable. Loadmasters failed to install and secure the wooden copper coils according to the published procedures and failed to use appropriate equipment such as nets or belts. The copilot exercised an unsatisfactory supervision of the loading while the captain decided to takeoff despite the load was improperly secured.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Orel

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40717
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G171-54
YOM:
1976
Location:
Orel
Orel oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Smoke spread in the cabin during flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. Erroneous crew actions caused the aircraft to crash. Occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Nelkan

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-44958
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1G26-01
YOM:
1963
Location:
Nelkan
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over a mountainous area, the single engine aircraft lost height and crashed in hilly terrain. Occupant's fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Los of control due to atmospheric turbulences and downdrafts.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Maykop

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70076
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G136-02
YOM:
1972
Location:
Maykop
Republic of Adygea
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The fuel tank on which the engine was connected was empty.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Saratov: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1978 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-05706
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balashov - Saratov
MSN:
1G153-19
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU481
Location:
Saratov-Tsentralny
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Aircraft flight hours:
3208
Circumstances:
While descending to Saratov-Tsentralny Airport, the crew contacted ATC and was cleared to continue the approach. In poor visibility due to bad weather (low clouds and rain falls), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 4,5 km west of the airport. Due to poor weather conditions, rescuers arrived on scene at 2200LT in the evening. The copilot and an illegal passenger were seriously injured while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach below weather minima and failed to see and avoid ground obstacles. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wrong decision on part of ATC at Saratov Airport as the crew should be diverted to another airport and not cleared for approach,
- Information transmitted to crew regarding weather conditions and forecast were inaccurate,
- Poor flight operations conception,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Wrong decisions ont part of ATC and pilots,
- Poor weather conditions (limited visibility, low clouds, rain).

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kirensk

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07608
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G156-48
YOM:
1974
Location:
Kirensk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an engine failure. Occupant's faite unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

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

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02457
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nizhnevartovsk – Strezhevoy
MSN:
1G117-68
YOM:
1970
Location:
Nizhnevartovsk
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nizhnevartovsk Airport, the crew encountered control and stability problems. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in flames in a swampy area near the airfield. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was not properly cleared of snow and ice prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sverdlovsk: 38 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1978 at 1952 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87437
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk - Kostanay - Dzhambul
MSN:
9 43 13 35
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SU1080
Location:
Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo
Sverdlovsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Aircraft flight hours:
6291
Aircraft flight cycles:
5110
Circumstances:
Less than a minute after liftoff, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the left engine failed. The captain informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Unable to gain height, the airplane struck trees at a speed of 210 km/h and crashed in a wooded area located on a hilly terrain about 7,5 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine failed slightly less than a minute after rotation due to icing. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and did not activate the engine deicing systems despite the fact that icing conditions were reported in altitude. During climb, the left engine failed while both engines n°2 and 3 did not provide sufficient power. Also, it was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 419 kg above MTOW while its speed at the time the left engine failed was insufficient, also because the landing gear were not completely raised.

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

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1978 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32079
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novoaleksandrovsk - Novoaleksandrovsk
MSN:
1G92-35
YOM:
1968
Location:
Novoaleksandrovsk
Stavropol Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
8326
Aircraft flight cycles:
42120
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission on behalf of the 'Lenin' kolkhoz in Novoaleksandrovsk. After few circuits were completed in the morning, the single engine airplane was flying on a distance of 800 meters at a height of about 40 meters when it nosed down and crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was intoxicated. Analysis revealed an alcohol level of 4,04‰ in the captain's blood and 0,43‰ in the copilot's blood. It was not possible to determine who was the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident.
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