Russia

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A2582

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Schedule:

Nyurba – Botyobiya – Muhtuya – Vitim – Kirensk – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk

MSN:

1 02 473 01

YOM:

Location:

Botyobiya

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2887

Circumstances:

The crew departed Nyurba Airport at 1010LT on a cargo flight to Novosibirsk with intermediate stops at Botyobiya, Muhtuya, Vitim, Kirensk and Krasnoyarsk, carrying a load of various goods for a total weight of 900 kilos on behalf of the 'Amakinskoy' geophysical mission. One hour and twenty minutes after his departure from Nyurba, the crew arrived at Botyobiya and the captain started a steep descent (5 to 7 meters per second) and retarded the throttle when the aircraft struck the ground few meters short of runway threshold, bounced and crashed in flames 84 meters farther. The flight mechanic was killed while both pilots were seriously injured (burns). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Poor piloting techniques on part of the pilot-in-command. Lack of supervision by the local authorities was considered as a contributing factor.

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

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N584

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Cherepovets - Cherepovets

MSN:

184 402 08

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a night training mission when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the vicinity of the Cherepovets Airport. All four crew were killed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Dikson

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-12

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N525

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9 301 31 08

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The final approach was completed in low clouds and marginal visibility when the airplane hit the runway surface and bounced. On impact, the undercarriage were severely damaged, the aircraft rolled for 400 meters and then veered off runway to the right before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain in weather conditions considered as normal. Poor pilot techniques and overconfidence were considered as contributing factors.

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

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1956 at 2115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3488

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gizhiga - Gizhiga

MSN:

1 35 473 17

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1475

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Gizhiga Airport following a geophysical survey flight. En route, the pilot entered a narrow valley and while the visibility was decreasing due to clouds, the pilot decided to make a 180 turn. At an altitude of 460 meters, he started a turn to the right when the airplane collided with the mountain and crashed in flames. The radio navigator was slightly injured while all three other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The pilot was inexperienced on such geophysical survey flight and accumulated 50 flying hours on this type of aircraft prior to the accident. Also, the crew was on duty since 11 hours while the max duty time allowed for this kind of mission is six hours. If the time of the accident is confirmed at 2115LT, this means it was dark as the sunset is at 2007LT at Gizhiga on August 20.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 on Mt Hadaraniya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1956 at 1241 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L5554

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Batagay – Deputatsky

MSN:

1 47 473 05

YOM:

Location:

Mt Hadaraniya

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1355

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Batagay Airport at 1142LT bound for Deputatsky with a crew of three, three passengers and 543 kilos of various goods. En route, weather conditions worsened and the pilot climbed from 1,400 to 2,000 meters. As the visibility deteriorated, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight plan by 12 km and later, the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude to 1,300 meters when the airplane hit the slope of Mt Hadaraniya (1,468 meters high) located about 175 km northeast of Batagay. Two passengers were injured while four other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of wrong decisions on part of the crew who decided to modify his route without prior permission while he was flying in below minima weather conditions above a mountainous area. The following findings were reported:
- poor flight organization,
- poor analysis of the flight documentation,
- meteorological forecast that did not reflect the reality.

Ground accident of a Lisunov LI-2 in Voronezh

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1956 at 1321 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4869

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mineralnye Vody – Rostov-on-Don – Voronezh – Moscow

MSN:

184 355 04

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

SU256

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8146

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Voronezh Airport, the crew completed the braking procedure and vacated the runway for the taxiway when an explosion occurred in the right engine that caught fire. In the mean time, the right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in flames ont its belly. All occupants (four crew members and an undetermined number of passengers) evacuated safely while the airplane was partially destroyed by fire and declared as written off.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the right main gear rolled on a location of the taxiway that 'housed' three TM-35 anti-tank mines from the Second World War that were buried at an estimated depth of 1, 6 to 1.8 meter. The pressure of the right main landing gear on the earth separating the taxiway surface and the mines triggered the detonator, followed by the explosion of three mines.

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

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3805

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ust-Khayryuzovo – Tiguil – Voyampolka – Palana

MSN:

1 55 473 14

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

487

Circumstances:

The crew was performing the flight Ust-Khayryuzovo - Palana with intermediate stops at Tiguil and Voyampolka, carrying three passengers, two pilots and 954 kilos of deer meat carcasses. Shortly after takeoff from Voyampolka, the copilot told the captain they forgot to deliver a package so the pilot decided to return, completed a low pass at a height of 50 meters, opened his window and jettisoned the package when the aircraft banked left and lost altitude, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane cartwheeled and crashed upside down on an icy terrain. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were injured. One of the passenger died from his injuries few hours later.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a careless take of risk on part of the pilot who attempted to drop a package in flight while it would be more prudent to land. Doing so, he failed to pay attention to the conduct of the flight and the airplane attitude.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Tordoki-Yani: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1955 at 1207 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4993

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Sovietskaya Gavan – Elabuga – Khabarovsk

MSN:

2 34 433 06

YOM:

Flight number:

SU976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4021

Circumstances:

After his departure from Sovietskaya Gavan Airport, the crew obtained the permission to continue at the assigned altitude of 2,700 meters. Weather conditions deteriorated enroute with clouds, turbulences and high winds blowing from the north up to 90 km/h. While overflying the Sikhote-Alin Mountain Range, the aircraft encountered downdrafts and lost altitude. The crew increased engine power and elected to gain height but the aircraft continued to descent until it struck the slope of Mt Tordoki-Yani (1,750 meters high). The wreckage was found on December 21, 1955 and all 21 occupants have been killed. It was reported that the aircraft struck the mountain 20 meters below the summit.

Probable cause:

Severe downdraft in altitude caused the aircraft to lose height and to struck the mountain.

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

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1955 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft: