Region
Asia

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 on Mt Aag: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1977 at 1208 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70453
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Esso – Milkovo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
1G143-32
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU956
Location:
Mt Aag
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Milkovo Airport at 1117LT bound to the south. En route, weather conditions worsened and clouds developed over the Sredinny Mountain Range. At an altitude of 2,400 meters, the airplane entered clouds while descending to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky-Galaktyrka Airport. At an altitude of 2,200 meters, strong downdrafts were encountered then the airplane lost height and crashed on the north face of Mt Aag (2,230 meters high) located about 28 km northeast of Galaktyrka Airport. The burned wreckage was spotted a day later in deep snow and it was confirmed that all seven occupants were killed. Two days later, an avalanche dragged the wreckage for almost 700 meters and only the copilot's body was later found.
Probable cause:
The crew descended into clouds without knowing his exact position and without any visual contact with ground (mountains). At the time of the accident, strong atmospheric downdrafts were present as well as strong winds from the west, which was considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Cape Chelyuskin

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04195
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1 470 013 13
YOM:
1957
Location:
Cape Chelyuskin
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an ice survey flight over the Vilkitsky Strait, carrying four scientists and seven crew members. The goal of the mission was to facilitate the passage of ships in the Laptev Sea. After overflying Peter Island, while cruising by night at an altitude of 250 meters, the navigator made a mistake, causing the aircraft to fly to the wrong direction. Approaching the shore at an insufficient height, the airplane struck the icy and snow covered ground, slid for about 180 meters and came to rest, about 38 km southeast of Cape Chelyuskin. All 11 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Navigation error.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Srednekolymsk

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1977 at 1156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-55625
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Srednekolymsk – Nalimsk
MSN:
1123 473 05
YOM:
1959
Location:
Srednekolymsk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Srednekolymsk Airport, while climbing to a height of 150 meters, the engine started to misfire. Power dropped and fire sprayed out from the right side of the engine. The crew elected to make an emergency landing but inadvertently switched off the battery so he was unable to lower the flaps. The airplane crash landed at high speed, lost its undercarriage and lower wings and came to a halt, broken in two. All five occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the engine misfiring as a result of a failure of the rear spark plug on cylinder n°2, which occurred as a result of the central electrode falling out of the candle with subsequent burning of its body in the cylindrical part near the turnkey hexagon. The falling out of the central electrode of the rear spark plug of cylinder n°2 was caused by the destruction of the insulator due to the formation of a microcrack and internal stresses in the insulator in the process of making candles. According to the conclusions of the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation, this defect was the consequence of a faulty design and manufacture.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Chirinda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1977 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35485
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chirinda - Chirinda
MSN:
1 138 473 05
YOM:
1960
Location:
Chirinda
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
13476
Aircraft flight cycles:
9357
Circumstances:
In the morning, the crew completed two geophysical missions on behalf of the Severo-Yeniseysk expedition. In the afternoon, four passengers were illegally embarked for a fishing party on the Kotui River. In the evening, while flying back to Chirinda, the airplane suddenly lost height, struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of a mountain (480 meters), about 6 km southwest of Chirinda. The burned wreckage was found 132 meters below the summit and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was considered that the engine probably failed in flight as the fuel quantity in both tanks was insufficient (110 liters instead of the minimum 300 liters required).

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Otrado-Olginskoye

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1977
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32108
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G93-14
YOM:
1968
Location:
Otrado-Olginskoye
Krasnodar Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located near Otrado-Olginskoye. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It is reported that the loss of control was caused by the fact that the crew was distracted.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 near Bratsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-8
Operator:
MSP - Ministerstvo Sudostroitelnoi Promyshlennosti
Registration:
CCCP-48094
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
0A3410
YOM:
1960
Location:
Bratsk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
6200
Aircraft flight cycles:
3889
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight on behalf of the MSP – Ministerstvo Sudostroitelnoi Promyshlennosti (Soviet Ministry of Naval Construction). While cruising by night, the pilot informed ATC that he lost the artificial horizon. Shortly later, control was lost and the airplane entered a dive. It partially disintegrated during the descent and eventually crashed in a pasture. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the artificial horizon for unknown reasons. The airplane later disintegrated in the air due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded its design and certification.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T near Omolon

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01250
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1 81 473 17
YOM:
1957
Location:
Omolon
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions when the single engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill located near Omolon. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Selikhino: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1977 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07313
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bogorodskoye – Mariinskoye – Khabarovsk
MSN:
1G149-17
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU232
Location:
Selikhino
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
4683
Aircraft flight cycles:
5297
Circumstances:
After departure from Mariinskoye Airport bound for Khabarovsk, while cruising at an altitude of 1,350 meters, weather conditions worsened. The crew reduced his altitude to 750 meters and decided to modify his route bound for Troitskoye. While cruising in clouds, the airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located 22 km southeast of Selikhino. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the burnt wreckage was found a day later at an altitude of 630 meters. A boy aged 13 was injured while 10 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue in adverse weather conditions (low clouds and rain falls) below the minimum safe altitude prescribed for the area. The lack of ATC assistance was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ust-Kuyga

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-26
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26536
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2003
YOM:
1974
Location:
Ust-Kuyga
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment, the pilot-in-command abruptly reduced the engine power, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and to struck the runway surface. The aircraft then rolled for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
An excessive reduction of the engine power on final caused the aircraft to lose altitude and to roughly struck the runway surface. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Insufficient approach speed,
- Confusion by the flying crew,
- Incorrect compensation of the wind component,
- Limited runway length.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Susuman: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1977 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98368
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Susuman - Susuman
MSN:
1 107 473 01
YOM:
1958
Location:
Susuman
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
12026
Aircraft flight cycles:
8863
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Susuman Airfield at 0826LT on a prospecting mission on behalf of the 22nd Geophysical NPN Group based in Seymchan. It was carrying three crew members and three operators of the NPN Group. While cruising in a valley at an altitude of 800 meters, the airplane struck power cables (it cut three cables), went out of control and crashed in flames 375 meters further. All three crew members were seriously injured and all three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the minimum prescribed altitude during the mission and failed to see and avoid the cables that were located about 50 meters above the ground. A poor flight planning and the fact that the mission was not well organized by the geophysical company were considered as contributing factors.
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