Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Mys Nalycheva: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1966 at 1728 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79910
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Milkovo – Khalaktyrka
MSN:
1 166 473 02
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
2711
Circumstances:
On a flight from Milkovo to Khalaktyrka in support of a geological expedition, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (visibility limited to 10 km and snowfall). The crew failed to return and deviated from the prescribed flight path to the left by 17 km. The aircraft crashed at a height of 589 metres into the cloud-covered summit of a hill (594 metres) located in Mys Nalycheva, some 45 km northeast of Khalaktyrka. The wreckage was found a day later and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew decided to continue the flight despite the deterioration of the weather conditions. The failure of ATC to ask the crew to return to Milkovo or to divert to another airport was considered as a contributing factor, as well as the fact that meteorologists failed to inform the crew about the deterioration of the weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Baranikha

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1966 at 0458 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79943
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Pevek – Baranikha
MSN:
1 169 473 03
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Pevek on a special flight to Baranikha in good weather conditions with high clouds and a visibility of 20 km. While approaching Baranikha, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility dropped to 5 km due to snow falls. While descending to an altitude of 330 meters, the airplane struck a snow covered hill, causing the left ski to be torn off. The airplane continued for dozen yards and eventually nosed down and came to rest in the snow. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Investigations did no reveal any technical anomalies on the aircraft, the engine or any equipment. It is believed the pilot reduced too much the engine power on approach, causing the airplane to lose speed and height.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Pechora: 26 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1966 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52058
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vorkuta – Syktyvkar
MSN:
7 34 36 09
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
SU302
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
17157
Circumstances:
An hour after he departed Vorkuta Airport bound for Syktyvkar, the crew reported a fire on the right engine. For undetermined reason, the crew was unable to extinguish the fire and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. At a height of 100 meters, the right engine detached and out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in an icy pond located near the Bolchaya Vyatkina River. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The right engine number five cylinder broke in flight, which resulted in the breaking of the connecting rod and the failure of the cylinders number three and seven. The destruction of these three cylinders caused the hydraulic fluid to be ejected from the crankcase through the exhaust manifold, causing a violent fire that the crew was unable to extinguish.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-114D in Moscow: 21 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1966 at 0138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-76491
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Conakry – Brazzaville
MSN:
64 M 4 7 2
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
SU065
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
19
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
93
Aircraft flight cycles:
19
Circumstances:
The departure from Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport to Conakry and Brazzaville was attempted by night and poor weather conditions. After a course of 1,400 meters, at a speed of 260 km/h, the captain pull up the control column and started the rotation, causing the nose gear to leave the ground. Few seconds later, after a course of 1,850 meters, in a limited visibility, while at a speed of 275 km/h, the left main gear struck a snow wall 60 cm high. Rather than interrupt the takeoff, the captain continued when control was lost. The airplane veered off runway to the right and crashed in flames. Thirteen crew members and eight passengers were killed while 45 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew decided to attempt to takeoff with a visibility limited to 1,000 meters due to fog and snow, which was well below the minima. In such conditions, the aircraft was not properly aligned on the runway centerline, causing the left main gear to struck a snow wall. Investigators believe that Sheremetyevo Airport officials also bear some responsibilities for the accident because they failed to take the appropriate actions to ensure that the runway was properly cleared of snow. At the time of the accident, most elements of the lighting system fitted to both sides of the runway were covered with snow and therefore did not constitute pilot assistance.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 at Lakhta AFB: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kipelovo - Lakhta
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Kipelovo AFB (Vologda oblast) to Lakhta AFB, south of Arkhangelsk. During the final approach by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed, among them 16 high rank officers of the Soviet Navy.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134 in Moscow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45076
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
00 01
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight for the GKAP Tupolev OKB (Tupolev Industries) and departed Moscow-Chkalovsky Airport. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield at a relative low altitude, the airplane went out of control dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported the pilot-in-command positioned the rudder in a 25° angle without reducing speed. The airplane a steep turn and went out of control.

Crash of an Avia 14P on Mt Yushik: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1966 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-61618
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Magadan – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
015 602 108
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Aircraft flight hours:
12368
Aircraft flight cycles:
11356
Circumstances:
Two hours after his departure from Magadan on a flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, while cruising by night at an altitude of 3,600 meters, the crew informed ATC that the right engine failed. The pilot was instructed to divert to Sobolevo Airport for a safe landing but he preferred to continue to the destination despite the fact the aircraft was losing altitude as the power on one engine was insufficient. The aircraft descended to 2,700 meters and the pilot was aware of the mountain en route (2,000 meters high) and estimated his altitude was sufficient (gap of about 600 meters). Few minutes later, weather conditions deteriorated with snow showers and the visibility became very limited. Henceforth at an altitude of 2,000 meters in poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Yurshik (2,059 meters high) located about 60 km northwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The wreckage was found three days later, on January 4, and all 23 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight failure of the right engine due to the failure of the cylinder head. The decision of the crew to continue to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky instead of diverting to the nearest airport was inappropriate.

Emergency landing of an Ilyushin II-18B in Magadan

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75688
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Magadan
MSN:
189 0012 03
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Krasnoyarsk to Magadan of a flight from Moscow to Magadan, the autopilot system failed while the aircraft was flying at a height of 8,000 metres by night. The aircraft banked to the left at an angle of 80-90°, entered a dive and descended at a speed of 730 km/h. Control was recovered by the crew at a height of some 4,000 metres. The crew managed to land safely at Magadan-Sokol Airport but the aircraft suffered structural damage during the dive with up to 3.8 g forces. Transferred to the Yegoryevsk technical school on 14DEC66, the aircraft was eventually struck of charge in 16FEB71 due to its poor technical condition. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Failure of the autopilot system in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2Skh in Ust-Maya

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01189
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1 79 473 17
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The undercarriage collapsed while landing on a snow covered runway at Ust-Maya. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V in Murmansk: 32 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1965 at 1557 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45086
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leningrad – Murmansk
MSN:
5 35 18 01
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
SU099
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Aircraft flight hours:
357
Aircraft flight cycles:
300
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport, the crew started the approach to Murmansk Airport by night and poor weather conditions due to snow falls. After passing the middle marker, the aircraft was 400 meters left of the approach path when the visibility suddenly dropped due to a snow squall. The airplane was below the glide when the captain misinterpreted lights on the ground and decided to increased the rate of descent. The airplane struck the icy surface of the Kilp Yavr Lake located 1,5 km short of runway 31, lost its left wing and came to rest in shallow water about 1,562 meters short of runway. 32 occupants were evacuated while 32 others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor weather conditions upon arrival with sudden deterioration of the visibility,
- Wrong decision on part of the crew who descended below the glide,
- Lack of ATC assistance and wrong instructions transmitted to the crew during the final approach procedure.