Region
Asia

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Kanash: 80 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1958 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42362
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Beijing – Omsk – Moscow
MSN:
8 66 010 02
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kanash
Republic of Chuvashia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
71
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
80
Aircraft flight hours:
465
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 meters on a flight from Omsk to Moscow, the crew was informed by ATC that the route to Vnukovo was closed due to weather deterioration and was instructed to divert to Sverdlovsk and to reduce his altitude to 10,000 meters. Two minutes later, the pilot sent a mayday message, reporting he was losing control of the airplane that entered a dive. By an angle of 80°, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located along a railroad track near Kanash. The aircraft totally disintegrated on impact and all 80 occupants were killed, among them several foreign citizens such as three Sudanese, one Cambodian (Cambodian ambassador in China), eight Czech, three Romanian, one Polish, five East-German, five Hungarian, three Moroccan, two British, five French, one Iraqi and one Laotian.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by severe downdrafts, updrafts and atmospheric turbulences encountered at high altitude while changing its itinerary and altitude. The aircraft then reach a critical angle of attack before entering a dive.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Sukpay

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65708
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
184 286 02
YOM:
1948
Location:
Sukpay
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently involved in an aerial photo mission when the left engine caught fire in flight. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency belly landing in the tundra. The aircraft came to rest about 82 km southeast of Sukpay, near the Aksu River, in the Sikhot-Alin Mountain Range. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Sources & photos:
http://aleonkin.livejournal.com/341110.html
https://napev.livejournal.com/201959.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Kuybyshev: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1958 at 0114 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-84733
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kuybyshev - Kuybyshev
MSN:
184 323 09
YOM:
16
Location:
Kuybyshev
Samara oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training mission at Kuybyshev Airport. Following several circuits in the area, the crew started a new approach. After passing the inner marker, the crew continued the approach at a very low altitude (about one meter above the ground) when the airplane struck with its undercarriage the fence of a private property. It then struck two houses before crashing in a garden. Three crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. One of the survivor died from his injuries two hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
It was not possible to determine the reason why the crew continued the approach at a so low altitude but the assumption that both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion was not ruled out. At the time of the accident, the engines were supplied by the rear right fuel tank that was almost empty.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Lazo: 28 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1958 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3904
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Magadan – Okhotsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30 073
YOM:
5
Location:
Lazo
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Aircraft flight hours:
7834
Circumstances:
Approaching Khabarovsk in limited visibility, the crew lost his orientation and continued to the south. Few minutes later, in poor weather conditions, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. While cruising at an altitude of 850 meters, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (1,050 meters high) located in the Lazo district, about 145 km southeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
ATC were unable to determine the exact position of the aircraft and to assist the crew efficiently. It is believed that both engines eventually stopped due to a fuel exhaustion and that the crew was unable to attempt an emergency landing due to limited visibility and rough terrain.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Chita: 64 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1958 at 2220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5442
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
7 35 03 03
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU004
Location:
Chita
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
64
Aircraft flight hours:
1041
Aircraft flight cycles:
401
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Khabarovsk Airport with a delay of 3 hours and 35 minutes due to poor weather conditions. En route, while cruising at an assigned altitude of 11,000 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to gain height to avoid the low pressure area. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 12,000 meters, the airplane went out of control and nosed down. It dove into the ground and crashed by an angle of 60° nose down in a field located near Chita. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 64 occupants were killed. Debris were scattered on a distance of about 450 meters.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a loss of controllability due to atmospheric turbulences while cruising at an altitude of 12,000 meters which is in excess with the flying limitations and certification of the aircraft. Due to marginal weather conditions, the flight should be cancelled or postponed. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the ground operations, flying crew and flight director,
- The flight was delayed of 3 hours and 35 minutes, causing the aircraft to fly in worse weather conditions than predicted,
- Inadequate weather forecast,
- Poor weather conditions with atmospheric turbulences,
- Lack of clear instructions concerning the aircraft operation limitations (ceiling altitude),
- Violation of standard operating procedures.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Inta: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3803
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pelengachi – Kazhim
MSN:
1 55 473 11
YOM:
1955
Location:
Inta
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
At Pelengachi Airport, the captain was told that weather conditions were poor all along the route and that operations were suspended. Despite the situation, he took the decision to leave Pelengachi bound to Kazhim with three other crew members. After takeoff, the single engine airplane climbed to an altitude of 200-300 meters before it disappeared in the clouds. Twenty-three minutes later, while cruising in low visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong decision on part of the captain to perform the flight despite poor weather conditions. Lack of operations supervision on part of the authority was also reported. It is believed the captain was tired at the time of the accident due to insufficient rest time. Also, he was apparently intoxicated, which contributed to the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Byelaya Noch: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5643
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seymchan - Byelaya Noch - Seymchan
MSN:
1 54 473 11
YOM:
1955
Location:
Byelaya Noch
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Seymchan at 0305LT on a geological survey flight in the region of the Byelaya Noch and Popovka Rivers. After few maneuvers at an altitude of 760 meters and at a speed of 250 km/h, the crew reduced his speed down to 80 km/h while approaching a mountain (40° slope). The airplane struck the ground with its tail wheel, causing the airplane to drift down and struck the mountain. The pilot made a turn to the left to bring the aircraft back in the direction of the descent to increase the speed but the airplane bounced three times. During the third impact, it came to rest in flames and both mechanic and navigator were ejected from the cockpit and killed instantly. All four occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from poor decisions on the part of the pilot-in-command who, by negligence and lack of discipline, engaged the aircraft in hazardous maneuvers near a mountainous area.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Magadan: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1958 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1364
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Okhotsk – Magadan
MSN:
30 082
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
SU105
Location:
Magadan
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
11103
Circumstances:
While descending to Magadan Airport on a flight from Okhotsk, weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds, rain falls and a visibility of about four km. On approach, the airplane struck pine trees and crashed in a wooded area located 16,5 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew started the descent without knowing his real position and altitude. Due to clouds, the pilot failed to locate the ground nor the airport.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18 in Moscow: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
002 red
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
18700 01 04
YOM:
1
Location:
Moscow-Sheremetyevo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
67
Aircraft flight cycles:
120
Circumstances:
The crew (five engineers and five test pilots) were engaged in a local test flight out from Moscow-Sheremetievo Airport. Few minutes after takeoff, the engine number two failed. As it was not possible to feather the propeller, the airplane lost height and speed. The crew decided to return to Sheremetievo Airport for an emergency landing but on final, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames 4 km short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all ten occupants were killed. The test flight was performed on behalf of AKDON – Aviatsionnaya Krasnoznamyonnaya Diviziya Osobogo Naznacheniya, a division of the Soviet Army.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was equipped with four Kuznetsov NK-4 engine that were not fitted with a propeller feathering system. When the engine number two failed, as the propeller could not be feathered, this caused high drag and the aircraft lost speed and eventually stalled.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Igarka: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1958 at 1107 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N588
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1 22 473 10
YOM:
1952
Location:
Igarka
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Igarka, killing all three crew members.
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