Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Seymchan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1963 at 1409 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-16194
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pevek – Zyrianka – Seymchan – Magadan
MSN:
58 04
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
13792
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Pevek to Magadan with intermediate stops at Zyrianka and Seymchan, carrying a load of reindeer skins for a total weight of 800 kilos. Due to strong winds, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan and nor the crew nor ATC were able to note this. While approaching a mountainous area in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered downdrafts. The airplane lost altitude and descended from 2,400 to 1,820 meters in few seconds before crashing on the slope of Mt Tuonnyakh. The wreckage was found four days later some 53 km northwest of Seymchan and all four crew members were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow navigation rules and failed to maintain regular communication contacts with ATC who also failed to assist the crew properly. Information transmitted to the crew and related to wind component did not reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tazovskoye: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1963 at 0841 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-71186
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tazovskoye – Salekhard
MSN:
184 293 09
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SU076
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
7388
Circumstances:
The takeoff from Tazovskoye Airport was attempted from an icy runway and in marginal weather conditions with a visibility limited to 500 meters and a crosswind gusting to 43 km/h. After a takeoff roll of 1,600 meters, the pilot pulled up and started the rotation when the aircraft banked right and crashed 265 meters farther, about 70 meters on the right of the extended center line. All four crew members and eight passengers were killed while 13 passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of control while taking off in marginal weather conditions. The flight was dispatched despite the fact that the visibility and weather conditions were below minima at the time of the accident. It was also reported that ATC consumed alcohol the night before and failed to have sufficient rest time.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Norilsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Klin – Norilsk – Tiksi
MSN:
09 014 06
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to Norilsk-Nezhdanny Airport on a flight from Klin, an inexperienced air traffic controller allowed the crew to descend to 700 meters although the mountains of the Talnakhskiye gory range reach a height of 740 meters in the approach path. The aircraft collided with a mountain top (633 meters) near the Talnashki River and fell into a gorge. Seven crew members were killed and the sole survivor, the tail gunner, was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor assistance on part of the ATC who transmit wrong information to the crew while descending to the airport.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Kazan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1962 at 0947 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-15939
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kamskoye Ustye – Kazan
MSN:
1 149 473 08
YOM:
22
Flight number:
SU563
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
4098
Circumstances:
While approaching Kazan on a flight from Kamskoye Ustye, the engine failed. Flying at low height and facing power cables, the captain decided to pass below the cables and to attempt an emergency landing on a highway. After touchdown, the airplane struck a metal slide and obstacles before coming to rest. Both pilots and three passengers were injured while nine other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Six hours after the accident, the copilot died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight caused by the poor quality of the fuel which was contaminated.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Olyokminsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1962 at 1243 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-84603
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Olyokminsk
MSN:
4608
YOM:
23
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
11607
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Olyokminsk, carrying a load of various goods such as 70 kg of mail, 494 kg of garlic, spare parts, a welding machine, a screen and radio equipment for a total weight of 1,476 kg. While descending to Olyokminsk, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and followed visually the wrong river Sinyaya instead of Lena. Doing so, the aircraft descended prematurely and its altitude was insufficient while passing the outer marker. The aircraft struck trees and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill (434 m high) located 25 km short of runway threshold. The wreckage was found a day later and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Unable to determiner his exact position based on the ETA, the crew erroneously followed the Lena River. As a result of a premature descent, the aircraft collided with trees. ATC, unable to assist the flight by radar in marginal weather conditions, unreasonably gave permission to the crew to perform a straight-in approach, based only on the report of the crew.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Ribnoye: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1962 at 0503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-54970
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chita – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk – Omsk – Chelyabinsk – Kuybyshev – Minsk
MSN:
2 34 428 09
YOM:
23
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
14950
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Chita Airport on October 31 on a positioning flight to Minsk with intermediate stops at Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk and Kuybyshev, carrying a crew of five and four passengers, crew wife's and children. On the leg from Krasnoyarsk to Novosibirsk, weather conditions worsened and the crew elected to gain height due to icing conditions but this was denied by ATC. While cruising at an altitude between 900 and 1,500 meters, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive before crashing in flames in a dense wooded area located near Ribnoye, about 23 km east of Tamozhenka. Due to low clouds and snow falls, rescue teams could be dispatched only a day later but all SAR operations were suspended on November 22 as no trace of the aircraft nor the 9 occupants was found. These operations were restarted in May 1963 and the wreckage was eventually found on May 29, 1963. It was reported the aircraft struck the ground in a 70-80° nose down attitude and disintegrated on impact. Debris were found 200 meters around the point of impact, the engines were found three meters deep into the earth and a part of the right elevator was found 1 km from the main wreckage. The accident was not survivable.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of control in flight due to an excessive accumulation of ice on the aircraft. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The operator decided to dispatch a crew who was not familiar with such weather conditions (icing conditions),
- The inexperience of the crew,
- Poor flight organization,
- Lack of coordination between Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk control center,
- Lack of assistance from ATC who did not authorized the crew to climb above 2,700 meters where the weather conditions were more suitable.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Moscow: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1962 at 1033 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42495
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
0 2 17 03
YOM:
13
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
1966
Aircraft flight cycles:
881
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a post-maintenance test flight and was carrying six technicians and five crew members. Following a normal takeoff roll of 1,550 - 1,600 meters on runway 25, the pilot completed the rotation and a normal initial climb. Following a distance of 800 meters and once the aircraft reached the altitude of 175 meters, it banked left to an angle of 90°, went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of an error on part of the technicians who failed to reconnected the rudder control system according to the manufacturer procedures. It was reported that the system was cross-connected by mistake, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 near Chersky: 32 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1962 at 0632 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-61628
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Magadan – Berelekh – Zyryanka – Chersky – Bilibino
MSN:
1460 009 29
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
SU213
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Aircraft flight hours:
9868
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Magadan to Bilibino with intermediate stops at Berelekh, Zyryanka and Chersky. Due to poor weather at Bilibino, the aircraft, the crew and the passengers were grounded at Chersky for four days. Eventually, weather seemed to improve so the crew decided to depart Chersky in the morning of September 18. Few minutes after takeoff, the airplane entered a cloud area and while cruising at the altitude of 800 meters, it struck the snowy slope of Mt Belaya Strelka (975 meters high) located 46 km southeast of Chersky. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forced and a post crash fire and all 32 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to modify his route without prior permission and continued the flight at an insufficient altitude in low visibility without any visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Kurun: 86 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1962 at 2142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42366
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Khabarovsk – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
8 66 011 03
YOM:
27
Flight number:
SU003
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
79
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
86
Aircraft flight hours:
4426
Aircraft flight cycles:
1760
Circumstances:
After departure from Khabarovsk-Novy Airport, the crew was cleared to climb to the altitude of 4,000 meters. Once this altitude was reached, ATC cleared the crew to continue to climb to 8,000 meters. While climbing to the altitude of 4,500 meters, the copilot was able to send a brief distress call, reporting severe vibrations and that control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a 50-60° nose-down attitude in a huge explosion some 15 km southwest of the village of Kurun, some 96 km northeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 86 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft struck the ground in a 50-60° nose-down attitude, at high speed and on a slight left bank. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident and the civil investigators were not authorized to access some documents that were classified. It is possible that a technical problem occurred with the autopilot or ailerons or elevators. The assumption that the aircraft may have been shot down by a surface-to-air missile shot by Soviet forces conducting an exercise from the Litovko Training Center was not ruled out.