Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Nizhniye Kresty

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1952 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-H1011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pevek – Nizhniye Kresty – Magadan
MSN:
234 413 07
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pevek to Magadan with an intermediate stop in Nizhniye Kresty on behalf of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD – Ministerstvo Vnutrennick Del). The takeoff from Nizhniye Kresty Airport was attempted by night and on a runway covered with light snow. After rotation, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left and the left wing just passed over a parked AN-2. The aircraft then turn to the right and crashed on a mound. All four crew members were evacuated safely and the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled during initial climb due to an insufficient takeoff speed that was the result of a wrong departure configuration on part of the flying crew. The reaction of the pilot-in-command at stall was incorrect, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas TS-62 in Skvoritsy: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1952 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1055
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad – Minsk
MSN:
16973/34233
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
SU381
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
4042
Circumstances:
The TS-62 took off from Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport and its crew received the permission to climb to the altitude of 2,700 meters via the corridor number two. While climbing into clouds, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12 that was approaching the same Airport. Inbound from Minsk, the II-12 was registered CCCP-L1328 and was carrying 19 passengers and a crew of five. Its pilot obtained the permission from ATC to descend to the altitude of 1,200 meters via the same corridor number two. At the altitude of 1,200 meters, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near the village of Skvoritsy, about 23 km southwest of Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport. Both wreckage were found 1,200 meters from each other and all 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was caused by an error on part of the ATC services. Despite the fact that both aircraft were tracked on radar screens, ATC based at Leningrad-Shosseïnaya Airport failed to take appropriate actions to ensure a minimum safe separation between both airplanes and failed to realize that they were flying in the same corridor in an opposite direction and at the same altitude. Investigations revealed that the collision was the result of successive errors on part of the ATC who failed to ensure an efficient radar surveillance and transmitted to both crews inappropriate instructions that led both aircraft on the same track.

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

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1952 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1328
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minsk – Leningrad
MSN:
30 054
YOM:
30
Flight number:
SU376
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
2283
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport and obtained the permission by ATC to descend to the altitude of 1,200 meters via corridor number two. While flying into clouds, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Douglas TS-62 registered CCCP-L1055 that was performing flight SU381 to Minsk with seven people on board. It just took off from the same airport and its crew received the permission to climb to the altitude of 2,700 meters via the same corridor number two. At the altitude of 1,200 meters, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near the village of Skvoritsy, about 23 km southwest of Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport. Both wreckage were found 1,200 meters from each other and all 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was caused by an error on part of the ATC services. Despite the fact that both aircraft were tracked on radar screens, ATC based at Leningrad-Shosseïnaya Airport failed to take appropriate actions to ensure a minimum safe separation between both airplanes and failed to realize that they were flying in the same corridor in an opposite direction and at the same altitude. Investigations revealed that the collision was the result of successive errors on part of the ATC who failed to ensure an efficient radar surveillance and transmitted to both crews inappropriate instructions that led both aircraft on the same track.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Ust-Tareya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1952 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N591
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1 24 473 07
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
200
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft left Ust-Tareya Airport at 1025LT bound for a remote airfield located on an island on the Piasyna River, about 35 km from Ust-Tareya, carrying two passengers (among them a doctor) and four crew members. Upon arrival, the pilot (M. N. Tomilin) decided not to land on the airfield but close to the buildings of the GGU geological expedition. Due to strong cross winds and the difficulties of the terrain, he was unable to land and was forced to make a go around. After three unsuccessful attempts to land, he elected to go around again when the aircraft, with full flaps extended, encountered gusty winds and lost speed. The left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed in flames, killing all six occupants.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration and poor flight organization. The following factors were pointed out:
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot-in-command who attempted to land in difficult conditions on an unprepared terrain while an existing airfield was close to his position,
- Wrong piloting techniques when the pilot-in-command elected to make a go around with full flaps extended,
- Insufficient speed which contributed, with strong winds, to the stall of the aircraft.

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

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4673
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk – Tashkent
MSN:
66 05
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Khabarovsk to Tashkent with intermediate stops in Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk, carrying a crew of six and one passenger, a Soviet Army Officer. The airplane left Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1822LT bound for Novosibirsk. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 meters in the clouds, the crew encountered icing conditions and obtained the permission to descend to 900 meters. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Novosibirsk, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the seven occupants was found. The wreckage was found 15 years later, in 1967, on the northwestern slope of Mt Kuznetsky Alatau (1,037 meters high) located in the region of Belogorsk. According to investigations, it appears the aircraft hit tree tops, flew about 70 meters and crashed in flames in a wooded area at an altitude of 710 meters. The airplane disintegrated on impact and was consumed by a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident occurred when the crew was attempting an emergency landing due to severe icing conditions.

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

Date & Time: May 3, 1952 at 0814 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Khandyga – Allaikha
MSN:
46 07
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2284
Circumstances:
On the leg from Yakutsk to Khandyga of a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Allaikha when the favorable weather forecast turned out not to be in line with reality. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path due to strong winds, entered clouds and crashed at a height of some 1,200 metres into the northwestern slope of the first mountain of the Verkhoyanski khrebet ridge located some 95 km northwest of Khandyga and fell down into a ravine about 120 meters further on. All 4 crew were killed. The wreckage was found eight days later, on 11 of May.
Probable cause:
The weather report transmitted to the crew before departure did not reflect the reality and the weather conditions were worse than predicted. Nevertheless, the crew failed to demonstrate discipline and mismanaged the flight properly and according to the published procedures.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Novosibirsk: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1312
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Novosibirsk
MSN:
30018
YOM:
14
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
1923
Circumstances:
The crew left Novosibirsk-Severny Airport at 1400LT for a local training flight. At that time, weather conditions were poor with overcast at 200 meters, rain showers, visibility less than three km and icing conditions in clouds. While flying into the clouds at an altitude estimated between 1,200 and 1,250 meters with the left engine inoperative, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that turned to the left, dove into the ground and crashed in flames few km from the airport. A crew member was injured while eight other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the left engine was inoperative at impact and that the propeller was feathered, a configuration apparently intended by the crew and part of the training program.

Crash of a Ilyushin II-12 in Magdagachi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1952 at 1339 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1308
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Magdagachi – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30014
YOM:
12
Flight number:
SU005
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
1890
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Irkutsk to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops in Chita and Magdagachi, carrying a load of 2,090 kilos of various goods and mail. After a takeoff run of about 600 meters, the pilot-in-command completed the rotation and the aircraft climbed to a height of 30-40 meters when it banked right to an angle of 10-15° then up to 70°. Out of control, it plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 922 meters to the right of the extended center line, about 800 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 6 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that a technical issue or a wrong position of the left ailerons is not ruled out. At the time of the accident, strong crosswinds and turbulence were present at the airport and may be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of an airplane in Tula: 34 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tula - Berlin
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
On landing at Tula Airport, an Aeroflot's airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with the Soviet Air Force aircraft that was holding for takeoff to Berlin. Both aircraft exploded and all 70 occupants on both aircraft were killed, 36 on board Aeroflot and 34 on board the Soviet Air Force airplane, among them 30 Army cadets. The exact circumstances of this ground collision remains unclear.

Crash of an airplane in Tula: 36 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Odessa – Toula – Moscow
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
On landing at Tula Airport, the Aeroflot's airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a Soviet Air Force aircraft that was holding for takeoff to Berlin. Both aircraft exploded and all 70 occupants on both aircraft were killed, 36 on board Aeroflot and 34 on board the Soviet Air Force airplane, among them 30 Army cadets. The exact circumstances of this ground collision remains unclear.