Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Rostov-on-Don: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1974 at 2142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46277
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rostov-on-Don - Ufa
MSN:
77303610
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
11277
Aircraft flight cycles:
10750
Circumstances:
Following a heavy maintenance program at the Rostov-on-Don Manufacture Plant, the aircraft was on its way back to Ufa, carrying a crew of four. The departure from Rostov Airport was initiated at night and poor visibility due to thick fog. After a normal takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation at a speed of 200 km/h and continued to climb in zero visibility. At an altitude of about 220 meters, a first turn to the left was initiated when the airplane rolled left to an angle of 25-30°. At a speed of 325 km/h, flaps were selected up when inconsistent actions occurred between the PIC and the copilot. The copilot elected to reduce the roll to acceptable values, as a result, the rudder trim was positioned to the right hand limit but the airplane seems to become unstable. At this time, the crew reduced the engine operation to nominal values when the noticed a discrepancy between the readings of the left and right artificial horizons. The crew tried to determine which artificial horizon gives the wrong readings when the airplane entered a left turn and crashed at a speed of 430 km/h in an open field located 1,750 meters past the runway end, 17 seconds after liftoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control that occurred during initial climb was the result of an anomaly in the Captain's artificial horizon, either because of a misreading on his part or because of a problem with the power supply system. Investigators stated that the accident occurred through visibility below minimums and that the crew's decision to fly by night under such conditions was unjustified. Also, it was noted that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and that he precipitated the departure, which remains a contributing factor insofar as certain procedures were neglected.

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

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1974 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-33225
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yegorlykskaya - Yegorlykskaya
MSN:
1G57-28
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5558
Aircraft flight cycles:
19860
Circumstances:
While on a crop spraying flight for the sovkhoz (state farm) im. Kirova in the Yegorlykskaya district of the Rostov region, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions (poor visibility) due to thick fog. On approach, the pilot was unable to locate the airfield and decided to descend at an unsafe altitude when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames in a snow covered field located 1 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flight organization and wrong decision on part of the crew who decided to continue the approach in below minima weather conditions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2V near Khantaiskoye Ozero: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1973 at 1926 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32448
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Dudinka – Khantaiskoye Ozero
MSN:
1G102-09
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
4840
Aircraft flight cycles:
4326
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Dudinka to Khantaiskoye Ozero settlement (Taimyr) during the polar night when the crew decided to cut the route short although visibility was poor. On approach to Khantaiskoye Ozero, crew was unable to establish the position of the aircraft as the frequency of the radio beacon at Khantaiskoye Ozero had been changed without notice. The crew started the descent when the aircraft crashed at a height of 1,016 metres into the northern slope of a mountain (1,044 metres high) located some 28 km east of Khantaiskoye Ozero. The copilot was killed and the captain was seriously injured and rescued two days later, on December 26, 1973.
Probable cause:
Wrong decisions taken en route by the crew who decided to modify his itinerary. The frequency of the radio beacon at destination had been changed without notice, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Urzhum: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1973 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40521
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kirov – Shurma – Plotbishche - Kirov
MSN:
1G83-24
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5918
Circumstances:
On the leg from Kirov to Shurma (without passengers or cargo) of a flight from Kirov to Plotbishche, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions (snowfall and poor visibility) between Urzhum and Shurma and suffered from severe icing. The decision to divert to Kilmez was taken too late so the aircraft went out of control due to icing and crashed in a snow covered field between Shevnino and Sanatorny, some 10 km east of Urzhum Airfield. The aircraft caught fire and burnt out, killing both pilots. The wreckage was found two days later, on December 21.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight due to severe icing conditions.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V in Karacharovo: 51 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1973 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45061
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vilnius - Moscow
MSN:
4 35 14 06
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
SU2022
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Aircraft flight hours:
14903
Aircraft flight cycles:
13832
Circumstances:
The crew was cleared to descent to 5,700 meters when a technical issue occurred on the elevator trim system. The airplane entered a dive and during the descent, the captain was able to regain control at an altitude of 2,000 meters. While flying by night, the gyro failed and the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. So he lost again control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a near vertical attitude at a speed of 900 km/h in an open field located about 480 meters from Karacharovo. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 51 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
An electrical short-circuit occurred in the elevator trim system, causing the elevator to be jammed in a down position. In such conditions, the airplane entered a dive and became uncontrollable after the gyro failed as well.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Moscow: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1973 at 2229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42503
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kutaisi - Mineralnye Vody - Moscow
MSN:
0 2 19 01
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
18300
Aircraft flight cycles:
10983
Circumstances:
The descent to Domodedovo Airport was initiated by night and marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. On final, the airplane was unstable and not properly aligned on the glide so the captain decided to make a turn to the left when the airplane banked left to 35-40°, causing the left wing to struck the ground 135 meters short of runway threshold and 25 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames and came to rest 340 meters past the threshold and 220 meters to the left of the runway. Five crew members and seven passengers were killed while 63 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Within 10 days after the accident, four other passengers died from their injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew adopted a wrong approach configuration in marginal weather conditions and failed to initiate a go-around maneuver while the aircraft was not properly aligned on the glide and was unstable. The sharp turn completed by the captain caused the airplane to become uncontrollable and to crash.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V in Kazan

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45031
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2 35 09 01
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kazan-Borisoglebskoye Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Kirensk

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41978
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1 68 473 08
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
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 crew to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Kirensk. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70408
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kolpashevo – Tomsk
MSN:
1G141-62
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The takeoff procedure was attempted while the aircraft has not been properly deiced.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Nyrob

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01609
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G82-03
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Takeoff attempted with a total weight above the MTOW.