Russia

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-05706

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Balashov - Saratov

MSN:

1G153-19

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU481

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-07608

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Site:

MSN:

1G156-48

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-02457

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Nizhnevartovsk – Strezhevoy

MSN:

1G117-68

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sverdlovsk - Kostanay - Dzhambul

MSN:

9 43 13 35

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

SU1080

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32079

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Novoaleksandrovsk - Novoaleksandrovsk

MSN:

1G92-35

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

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

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1978 at 1307 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32323

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Kharantsy - Onguren

MSN:

1G97-35

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

SU137B

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8161

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Irkutsk-Magan Airport at 1236LT on a flight to Onguren with an intermediate stop in Kharantsy. At 1303LT, the crew informed ground about his position, flying at an altitude of 1,500 meters. Four minutes later, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the airplane pitched down and crashed in a nose down attitude of 75° in a wooded area located 15 km east of the village of Kharat. As the radio contact was lost and the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but the wreckage was found a week later only, on September 8, in a hilly and wooded area, at an altitude of 785 meters. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. There were no technical anomalies with the airplane that most probably lost height after being caught by downdrafts coming from a cumulonimbus.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Ekimchan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1978 at 0942 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-55719

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ekimchan - Baladek

MSN:

1G49-11

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12141

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane was completing a flight from Ekimchan to Baladek, carrying one passenger, two pilots and five drums loaded with diesel for a total weight of one ton. Seven minutes and 10 seconds after takeoff from Ekimchan, while flying at an altitude of 720 meters, the engine lost power. The airplane lost height, entered a nose down attitude of 18° then struck a hill. Both pilots were injured and the passenger was killed. The airplane was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, investigators believe that the fuel pump and a collector probably failed in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Golotl

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-79968

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: