Region
Asia

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Yakutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1951 at 1920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N566
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1 09 473 01
YOM:
1951
Location:
Yakutsk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
400
Circumstances:
After takeoff from an area located along the Lena River, in the region of Yakutsk, while climbing to a height of 50-60 meters, the single engine aircraft banked left to 65° and nosed down to 25° then plunged into the Lena River about 200 meters offshore. All four crew members were able to evacuate the cabin but only three reached the shore as the flight engineer was drowned.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by locked ailerons. The crew failed to prepare the flight properly and started the takeoff procedure with locked ailerons.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Vilyuisk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1951 at 0702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4314
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vilyuisk - Yakutsk
MSN:
18427409
Location:
Vilyuisk
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Vilyuisk Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew was able to shut down the engine and to feather the propeller and decided to return to the airport for a safe landing. After completing a circuit, the airplane was approaching the airfield when it stalled and crashed in a field. Two passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after liftoff due to a technical problem on the regulator. However, it was determined that the crew failed to take the appropriate actions and due to a lack of coordination, completed the approach in a wrong configuration with a too low speed, causing the aircraft to stall. A recovery was impossible due to an insufficient distance between the airplane and the ground. It appears that the captain and the second pilot who was acting as an instructor on this flight and was seating in the right seat did not have sufficient skills to operate in such situation with one engine inoperative.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 on Mt Nevskaya

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1951 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-H986
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Magadan - Seymchan - Omsukchan
MSN:
1 02 473 10
YOM:
28
Location:
Mt Nevskaya
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
332
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft left Magadan Airport at 0925LT under Visual Flight Rules with good weather conditions. En route, these conditions worsened and it was not possible to reach the crew due to communication issues. The pilot took the decision to cancel the intermediate stop in Seymchan and continued directly to Omsukchan. While the weather conditions became marginal and the visibility dropped, the crew went into a steep valley and dead end. In such conditions, the pilot in command increased power but the aircraft hit trees and crashed on the slope of Mt Nevskaya at an altitude of 1,380 meters. The wreckage was spotted a day later about 40 km southwest of Omsukchan. All eight occupants, among them two children, were evacuated. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew took the wrong decision to continue the flight when the weather conditions worsened. The pilot in command decided to cancel the intermediate stop and followed another route without prior permission, flew over a mountainous area without sufficient visual references with the ground, violating so the published procedures.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Russia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A2597
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kyzyl – Abakan
MSN:
1 06 473 07
YOM:
28
Location:
Russia
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
102
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Kyzyl Airport at 1205LT bound for Abakan, carrying a load of 485 kilos of furring. A minute after takeoff, the local weather center received an alert about a possible snowstorm. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Abakan, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. It was determined that weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T in Mama: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1951 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4467
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kirensk – Ust-Kut – Mama – Kirensk
MSN:
4002
YOM:
28
Location:
Mama
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2667
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight to Mama, carrying a load of fish. While descending to a height of 1,500 meters, the crew received the permission to complete the final approach visually when the airplane hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 18 km north of the airport. All eight crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal with low clouds, snow falls, turbulences and icing conditions.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the visibility was insufficient at the time of the accident and the pilot in command descended too low without any visual contact with the obstacles. Ground assistance on part of the ATC was not efficient, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12P in Moscow: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1951 at 2057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1313
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
30019
YOM:
3
Location:
Moscow-Vnukovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1278
Circumstances:
The airplane left Moscow-Vnukovo at 1535LT for a local test flight, carrying eight crew members, pilots and engineers. After departure, the crew lost his orientation due to poor weather conditions. At this time, the ceiling was about 100 meters with an horizontal visibility estimated between 2 and 4 km. Despite the situation, the crew continued the flight and flew over the capital city for few hours, completing the test program. Weather conditions worsened during the flight, the visibility dropped to 400 meters with fog and rain. On a night approach to runway 24, the aircraft was misaligned and the pilot in command decided to make a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second approach to land, the aircraft was too low and hit trees located 1,275 meters short of runway 24, stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were seriously injured. The captain, the copilot and the flight engineer died from their injuries few hours later.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew took the decision to carry a test flight while the weather conditions were below minima. Also, a direction finder was out of service when the crew started the flight, which contributed to the loss of orientation after takeoff. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- violation of the operator procedures on part of the flying crew,
- lack of discipline on part of the flying crew,
- poor weather conditions (below minima),
- overconfidence and arrogance on part of the captain,
- violation of the published navigation rules.

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1951 at 0442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4790
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Yakutsk
MSN:
184 341 04
YOM:
0
Flight number:
SU451
Location:
Irkutsk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
1026
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Irkutsk Airport at 0431LT in poor weather conditions with an horizontal visibility of 2 km in snow falls, low cloud base, turbulences and icing conditions. After its departure, the airplane failed to follow the prescribed flight path and few minutes later, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to feather the propeller and to return to the airport. Approximately 10 to 15 seconds later, while losing altitude, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed inverted in a wooded area located 4 km north of the village of Iskra, about 20 km east of Irkutsk. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found in an isolated area 10 days later, on April 4. A passenger was found seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the third cylinder of the right engine failed in flight, causing the engine to catch fire. With one engine inoperative and flying in icing conditions and turbulences, the aircraft was unable to maintain height, hit trees and crashed. The board determined that the following factors were considered as contributory:
- lack of visibility due to poor weather,
- icing conditions and turbulences,
- poor maintenance of the right engine regarding the 50 hours periodic inspection procedure,
- poor quality of the third cylinder,
- improper adjustment of the exhaust valve,
- the pilot-in-command voluntarily modified the crew prior to take-off and requested the presence of a copilot who was not licensed to fly a Lisunov LI-2 but only a Polikarpov PO-2,
- because of his inexperience on this type of aircraft, the copilot was unable to assist the captain in a complexe flight situation,
- the crew was tired and intoxicated after consuming alcohols prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Sovietskaya Gavan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
4803
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Znamenskoye - Znamenskoye
MSN:
48 03
YOM:
1948
Location:
Sovietskaya Gavan-Znamenskoye
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff from the Znamenskoye airbase in Sovietskaïa Gavan, while climbing, the pilot in command made a turn to the right to 15-20° to avoid a mountain on its left. Shortly later, while at a height of 340 meters, he completed a 90° turn to the left when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on the southwestern slope of the Mt Kekurnaya. Both pilots were killed while all four other crew members were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Crew:
Maj Nikitin Mikhail Zuev, pilot,
Cpt Alexei Ivanovich, copilot,
Grigory Mikhaïlovitch Kuznetsov, navigator,
Zagidulin Fatkulbayan,
Hakimovich Popov,
Fedor Ivanovitch,
Grigoryi Evhen.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Kazan: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1951 at 2248 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4359
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lyubertsy – Kazan
MSN:
184 284 06
YOM:
1
Location:
Kazan
Republic of Tatarstan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3640
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Lyubertsy Airport at 1957LT on a cargo flight to Kazan, carrying five crew members, one passenger and a load of various goods for a total weight of 1,446 kilos. Weather conditions were poor with low visibility and snow falls. The descent to Kazan was started at 2233LT and the pilot in command obtained the permission to reduce his altitude to 1,200 and then 700 meters. While approaching Kazan, the crew encountered clouds and icing conditions when the windshield was covered by ice. At an altitude between 127 and 130 meters, the airplane hit the mast of a radio antenna. On impact, the right wing was sheared off and the aircraft crashed in a field about 250 meters further on. The airplane was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew decided to continue the approach in marginal weather and icing conditions with an ice covered windshield. Also, the ground assistance provided by ATC was insufficient and the radio antenna hit by the airplane was insufficiently lit. It appears that the 18 meters of the top of the antenna were not equipped with a light and only two lights were fixed on the rest of the mast.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 off Tuapse: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1951 at 1532 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1811
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Moscow – Krasnodar – Sochi
MSN:
9 301 33 10
YOM:
27
Location:
Tuapse
Krasnodar Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
1346
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Krasnodar Airport at 1505LT bound for Sochi, carrying six crew members, two passengers and a load of mail for a total of 1,007 kilos. Twenty-one minutes later, the crew obtained the permission to descend visually to 1,800 meters and then 600 meters. While cruising at an altitude of 900 meters off Tuapse, the aircraft went into clouds when it was struck by lightning. Out of control, it dove into the Black Sea and crashed about two km off the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs' rest house located in Tuapse. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and sank by a depth of 55 meters. Some debris were found 3 to 4 weeks later, nobody survived.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was struck by lightning while flying in an area with thunderstorm activity. Lightning struck the left rear fuel tank and an explosion occurred while contacting fuel vapors. For unknown reason, the crew has not been informed about the presence of thunderstorm and lightning in the region of Tuapse.
Subscribe to Russia