Region
Asia

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Sverdlovsk: 108 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1973 at 2037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42506
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Omsk – Novosibirsk – Chita – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok
MSN:
0 2 19 04
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU3932
Location:
Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo
Sverdlovsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
100
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
108
Aircraft flight hours:
20582
Aircraft flight cycles:
9412
Circumstances:
After takeoff by night from Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, the crew was cleared to climb to 1,500 meters and initiated a left turn as instructed by ATC. The airplane first banked left to an angle of 35-40° and at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the left angle increased to 75-80° when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located 10 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of the 108 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as marginal with a visibility limited to 6 km, overcast 800 feet, wind from northwest at 15 knots and light rain.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control during initial climb was the consequence of the failure of artificial horizons as a result of a malfunction of the on-board electrical system. The combination of night, lack of visibility and flight instruments failure caused the pilot to suffer a spatial disorientation and the eventual loss of control.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Tomsk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1973 at 1702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41913
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tomsk - Tomsk
MSN:
1 21 473 07
YOM:
1952
Location:
Tomsk
Tomsk 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:
15272
Aircraft flight cycles:
11785
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Tomsk-Bogashovo Airport. Following four circuits, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when, at a height of about 120 meters, the airplane banked left to an angle of 20° then stalled and crashed 230 metres from the southern runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by a possible jammed aileron control cable was not ruled out.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Sovetsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1973 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-48982
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kotlas - Voronezh
MSN:
2 34 437 07
YOM:
1953
Location:
Sovetsk
Kirov 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:
10761
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a ferry flight from Kotlas to Voronezh with two passengers and a crew of five on board. The flight was operated at an altitude of 1,500 meters from Kotlas to Kirov and after passing Kirov, the crew was cleared to climb to 1,800 meters. At 1056, the crew was instructed for heading 219° when nine minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an uninhabited area located northwest of Sovetsk. The wreckage was found in the afternoon. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft became uncontrollable after it encountered severe turbulences while cruising in thunderstorm activity. Investigations revealed that the crew has not been informed about the possible presence of thunderstorms as the main weather radar of the local meteorologist was out of service due to maintenance.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kashin: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1973 at 0827 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01616
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tver - Kashin
MSN:
1G82-10
YOM:
1969
Location:
Kashin
Tver oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Kalinin (Tver) at 0747LT on a flight to Kashin. Few minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 450 meters, the crew was informed about the weather conditions at destination : low clouds, mist and visibility limited to 1,500 meters. In such conditions, ATC advised the crew to divert to the alternate airport located in Kalyazin, about 20 km southeast of Kashin. At 0815LT, the crew obtained a second weather bulletin but the conditions did not improve. Despite the situation, the captain decided to continue to Kashin. While flying in poor visibility at a height of 85 meters, the airplane struck a TV antenna (101 meters high) located few km from Kashin, dove into the ground and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 15 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to divert to the alternate airport and the wrong decision of the captain to continue to Kashin in below-minima weather conditions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Kyzyl

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1973
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09649
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G75-33
YOM:
1966
Location:
Kyzyl
Republic of Tuva
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For undetermined reason, the pilot was flying too low when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 on Mt Salatau: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1973 at 1021 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01794
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Khasavyurt – Botlikh – Makhachkala
MSN:
1G107-41
YOM:
1968
Location:
Mt Salatau
Republic of Dagestan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2646
Aircraft flight cycles:
4464
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Khasavyurt Airport at 0958LT on flight SU116 to Makhachkala with an intermediate stop in Botlikh. About 10 minutes later, while flying at an altitude of 1,300 - 1,500 meters, the airplane flew into clouds. Despite a limited visibility, the crew decided to continue, increased altitude and was able to distinguish the Ashu River, an affluent of the Sulak River. Nevertheless, few minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,400 meters and at a speed of 160 - 170 km/h, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Salatau (2,713 meters high) located 43 km southeast of Khasavyurt. Six passengers were injured while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. The crew decided to continue under VFR mode in clouds and failed to return to Khasavyurt Airport.

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

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1973
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-28954
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G09-14
YOM:
1961
Location:
Nerkha
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route in the Irkutsk region, while flying at a too low altitude, the aircraft crashed near Nerkha, south of Nizhneudinsk. There were no casualties.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2V in Bysyttakh

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1973
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41373
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G66-08
YOM:
1966
Location:
Bysyttakh River
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:
For unknown reason, the pilot was flying too low when the airplane hit the left bank of the Kotui River and crashed near the mouth of the Bysyttakh River. There were no casualties.
Photo: http://radikal.ru/lfp/i021.radikal.ru/1209/e4/dbe65f6ccfa6.jpg/htm

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Arkhangelsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1973 at 1557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87790
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Kotlas
MSN:
9 04 05 15
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
A-547
Location:
Arkhangelsk-Talagi
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Aircraft flight hours:
2171
Aircraft flight cycles:
2455
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Arkhangelsk-Talagi Airport, at a speed of 160 km/h, the captain started the rotation but the airplane failed to rotate. The pilot failed to abort and asked the copilot to detect the reason of the problem when, after a course of 2,250 meters, the airplane overran the runway. It rolled in bushes on a distance of 314 meters then struck the localizer antenna and a small building located 116 meters further. Out of control, the airplane continued on a distance of 55 meters and collided with a concrete pillar before coming to rest in flames. The copilot was killed, the captain and the flight engineer as well as 11 passengers were injured, the others 17 occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that an electrical problem from an unknown source occurred on the elevators locking system, causing the elevators to be jammed during the takeoff procedure. The reaction of the captain was inadequate as he failed to abandon the takeoff manoeuvre when the problem was detected.

Crash of PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Chumikan

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-33242
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G57-45
YOM:
1965
Location:
Chumikan
Khabarovsk Krai
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 engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but there were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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