Russia

Schedule:

Mama – Kirensk – Irkoutsk

MSN:

30 257

YOM:

1948

Flight number:

V-8

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9169

Circumstances:

On approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions. Despite the visibility decreased below minima, the captain continued the approach when the left wing tip struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane nosed down, struck the ground, bounced and eventually crashed 30 meters farther. The captain and the mechanic were killed while both other crew members were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Two days later, on December 1st, the copilot died from his injuries and a day later, on December 2nd, the radio operator died as well.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the visibility suddenly dropped due to fog in the approach path and the runway threshold. Despite the situation, the captain decided to continue the approach in below-minima conditions instead of diverting to another suitable airport. Weather forecast were inaccurate and did not reflect reality, which remains a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 at Belaya AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Irkutsk – Belaya – Vitebsk

MSN:

8 9 006 06

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

107

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Irkutsk-2 to Vitebsk with an intermediate stop at Belaya AFB located 85 km northwest of Irkutsk. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All ten occupants, four engineers and six 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 the failure of an aileron or a in-flight fire was not ruled out.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Moscow: 28 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1959 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-41806

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Baku – Makhatchkala – Astrakhan – Stalingrad – Moscow

MSN:

6 34 17 09

YOM:

Flight number:

SU200

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4945

Circumstances:

On approach to Moscow-Vnukovo, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with clouds and limited visibility. By night, the aircraft passed below the glide until it struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,400 meters short of runway 02 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and only one passenger survived. Among those killed were the Russian composer Sergei Artyomevich Agababov aged 32.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of poor approach techniques on part of the flying crew who allowed the aircraft to descent below the glide in poor visibility until the airplane struck obstacles. Following factors were considered as contributory:
- The crew was tired and failed to observe a sufficient rest time,
- At the time of the accident, the crew was on duty since 13h50 with 5h53 cumulated flying hours,
- The pilots performances were diminished by fatigue and work overload,
- The copilot's experience was insufficient,
- Poor visibility due to the night and a cloud layer down to 60 meters from the ground.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 at Tula AFB

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-8

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9340205

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Tula AFB. There were no casualties but the aircraft with no registration was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1959 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-84448

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Milkovo – Khalaktyrka

MSN:

35 02

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9416

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Milkovo to Khalaktyrka, carrying a crew of four and a load of 46 bags of potatoes for a total weight of 2,536 kilos. The crew started the descent in clouds and did not realize he was not following the assigned route for Khalaktyrka. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, the airplane struck the north face of Mt Aag (2,319 meters high) located 42 km north of Khalaktyrka. The wreckage was found a day later and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that strong winds were blowing at 60 km/h at the time of the accident, causing the airplane to deviate 12° from the prescribed route. Due to clouds, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. Lack of ATC assistance was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18B in Moscow

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75676

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

189 0009 05

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 meters over the region of Voronezh, the airplane penetrated cumulonimbus area and suffered updrafts first. It climbed to 10,700 meters then encountered downdrafts and descended to 7,000 meters. The propellers on both engines number one and four were automatically feathered when new downdrafts were encountered. The airplane descended to the altitude of 2,800 meters when the crew was able to recover control of the airplane. The crew contacted ATC and obtained the permission to return to Vnukovo for an emergency landing. Following an uneventful landing, all 56 occupants (some of them injured) were evacuated and the aircraft was later declared as damaged beyond economical repair due to heavy damage to the structure. Also, it was reported that the chemical liquid stored in the toilet compartment leaked and contacted several electrical system, causing short-circuits. Several connectors were down as well as the VHF communication system.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing following in-flight downdrafts and turbulences.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Cape Shelagsky: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1959 at 1940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-04242

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Nizhniye Kresty – Pevek

MSN:

184 399 09

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Nizhniye Kresty (now Cherski) to Pevek on a survey flight of the icy continent, the copilot decided to cut the route short when the captain was in the passenger cabin and overflew Cape Shelagski (469 meters). On approach to the cape, the aircraft was caught by strong downdraft and eventually struck the hill with the lower fuselage, was thrown up into the air again and eventually crashed into a large boulder and caught fire. Three crew members were rescued while seven others occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the copilot who decided to modify the route without referring to the captain and against all published procedures.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Kovrik River: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1959 at 1225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-54795

Flight Phase: