Crash of an Ilyushin II-12P in Valuevo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1948 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1731
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khodynka – Lyubertsy – Tashkent
MSN:
8 301 29 08
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked at Khodynka and has to be transferred to Tbilisi by an Aeroflot crew from Georgia. Unfortunately, this crew arrived too late and another crew from the Uzbekistan Aeroflot Division took over the airplane for a transfer to Tashkent. After takeoff, the crew failed to announce the modification to ATC, cut the route and continued at an insufficient altitude when the aircraft collided with an Aeroflot Douglas TS-62 registered CCCP-L861. Carrying four passengers and four crew members, the TS-62 just took off from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport and was climbing out bound for Moscow-Bykovo Airport. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 6 km southeast of the airport, in Valuevo. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong decision on part of the Ilyushin II-12' crew who decided to modify his route without prior permission from ATC.

Crash of a Douglas TS-62 in Valuevo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1948 at 1525 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L861
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
12400
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a positioning flight from Vnukovo Airport to Bykovo, carrying a crew of four and four passengers who were also pilots taking the opportunity of this flight to position to Bykovo. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the TS-62 (Douglas C-47A-10-DK) collided with an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12P registered CCCP-L1731. Its crew was performing a flight from Moscow to Tashkent via Lyubertsy. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 6 km southeast of the airport, in Valuevo. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the Ilyushin II-12P was parked at Khodynka and has to be transferred to Tbilisi by an Aeroflot crew from Georgia. Unfortunately, this crew arrived too late and another crew from the Uzbekistan Aeroflot Division took over the airplane for a transfer to Tashkent. After takeoff, the crew failed to announce the modification to ATC, cut the route and continued at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Raiiz: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Zh115
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mys Kamennyy – Salekhard – Abez
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a supply mission for the Ural expedition christened 'Zheldorproyekt'. On the leg from Salekhard to Abez, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Raiiz, in the Polyarnyy Ural Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few weeks later, in January 1949, and all 19 occupants were killed. The aircraft was owned by the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD – Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del).

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Srednekolymsk: 23 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4463
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zyrianka – Srednekolymsk
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While approaching Srednekolymsk, weather conditions worsened and the radio contact with ATC was lost. The approach was abandoned and the pilot was forced to make a go around as he was unable to locate the airport. A second and a third attempt to land were abandoned as well. While completing a last turn during a fourth approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in the Kolyma River, about 400 meters short of the runway threshold. Three passengers were seriously injured while 23 other occupants were killed. It appears that the aircraft' speed was too low during the last turn.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Mys Kosistyy: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1948 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N494
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kresty Kolymskiye – Chokurdakh – Mys Kosistyy
MSN:
184 30 12
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Kresty Kolymskiye to Mys Kosistyy with an intermediate stop in Chokurdakh. Approaching this airport, weather conditions were poor and the captain decided to divert to the alternate airport of Ust-Yansk located 420 km west of Chokurdakh. On ground at Ust-Yansk, a technical problem was identified on the right engine. After repairs, some tests were made for 1 hour and 10 minutes and as they were conclusive, it was decided to proceed to Mys Kosistyy. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine due to a loss of hydraulic pressure. The pilot was able to shut the engine down but unfortunately, it was not possible to feather the propeller. Due to high drag, the aircraft was unable to maintain a safe altitude and the crew elected to make an emergency landing. While descending through clouds, the crew encountered icing conditions and the windscreen was covered by ice. In such conditions, the pilot was unable to distinguish the ground when the aircraft crashed in a frozen area located 16 km east of Mys Kosistyy. The wreckage and the six dead bodies were found 16 days later, on November 17, 1948.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the right engine was caused by a faulty conception of a hydraulic supply vent. Due to a lack of oil pressure, the engine was shot down but the propeller could not be feathered, causing high drag and necessitating an emergency landing. Heavy flight conditions, high drag, night and poor weather conditions, poor operational organisation, absence of a flight plan and the fact that the crew failed to take a 2 hours fuel reserve were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Samurskaya: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1948 at 1401 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4500
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Krasnodar – Karachayevsk – Sukhumi – Tbilisi
MSN:
184 296 08
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
616
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed in Karachayevsk Airport at 0905LT and the crew took a break for lunch and drank vodka with some airport's officials. The aircraft took off from Karachayevsk at 1230LT bound for Sukhumi, overloaded by 366 kilos. After takeoff, the crew modified his route and continued to the northwest instead of southwest. While flying over mountainous terrain, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, strong winds and icing. Few minutes later, the aircraft was caught by downdraft, hit two trees on the slope of a mountain, lost its both wings and eventually crashed into a precipice 80 meters down. As the airplane failed to arrive in Sukhumi, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 18 occupants was found. On August 8, 1949, walkers found the wreckage of the aircraft at the altitude of 1,610 meters in a wooded area. Nobody survived.
Probable cause:
If was determined that the the pilots drank alcohol prior to departure and that the aircraft was overloaded. En route, the crew took the decision to change his route several times, violating existing regulations. Poor operational planning, inadequate flight management and lack of assistance on part of the Georgian ATC were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T near Parshino: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1948 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4658
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Kirensk – Bodaibo
MSN:
45 08
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
88
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Irkutsk to Bodaibo with an intermediate stop in Kirensk, carrying a load of apples and mail for a total of 2,222 kilos. One hour and 13 minutes after his departure from Kirensk, the crew encountered technical problems with both engines that lost power. The captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 25 km from Parshino. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines failed because the carburetor was not properly supplied by fuel that was contaminated by water (up to 16%) that partially iced in the tanks and the fuel supply systems. Investigations revealed that the fuel supply, transportation and storage procedures at Kirensk were not followed properly by the authorities. Fuel tanks were stored in full sun and were not waterproof, allowing condensation to form and contaminate the fuel that have not been drained.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T into the Barents Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1948 at 1917 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N464
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Amderma - Amderma
MSN:
184 282 01
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
430
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a reconnaissance mission in the region of the Franz Josef archipelago. While returning to Amderma, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong headwind, fog and low visibility. In such conditions, the crew lost his orientation and deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 210 km. As fuel seemed to be insufficient to reach Amderma under these conditions, the captain decided to divert to Novaya Zemlya, but failed to regain orientation and missed Novaya Zemlya while flying through the Kara Straits. After being in the air for 15 hours and 12 minutes, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The crew prepared for a ditching in high seas in the Barents Sea between Varandei island, Matveyev Island and Cape Medynski Zavorot by night. An empty dinghy was found few days later but no trace of the seven crew members nor the aircraft that was lost. It was determined that the crew was able to evacuate the cabin but probably did not survive to the extreme outside conditions. Investigators did not understand why the operator and the pilots decided to perform such mission in such conditions with this type of aircraft that was not suitable for this.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Buguruslan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1948 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1427
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buguruslan - Buguruslan
MSN:
30258
YOM:
10
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
245
Circumstances:
The crew, consisting of one instructor and three pilots, was completing a local training flight in Buguruslan-Baymakovo Airport. A first training program was completed at an altitude of 1,000 meters and the instructor ordered the crew to return to the airport. On final approach, during the last segment, the instructor ordered the crew to go around and increased power on both engines. During the initial climb, while at a height of 150 meters, the instructor shut down the right engine and feathered its propeller. At the same time, the aircraft banked left up to 30°, stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled during initial climb due to the combination of flaps deployed at an angle of 17° and the power reduction on the right engine. Unfortunately, the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to a expect any recovery. The instructor decided to make a single engine climb out in violation of the NPP-47 training program and instructions published for IL-12. Wrong interpretation of the situation on part of the rest of the crew also contributed to the loss of control. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Absence of appropriate measures concerning pilots management and training,
- Lack of control and demands in relation to the flight crews.

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

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1948 at 0352 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4498
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Kharkiv – Zaporozhie – Simferopol
MSN:
44 09
YOM:
0
Flight number:
SU253
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
113
Circumstances:
Takeoff from Moscow-Bykovo Airport was completed by night. Shortly after liftoff, during the initial climb, the captain ordered to switch off the landing light and to raise the undercarriage. The aircraft encountered problems to gain height and banked left, causing the left engine and its propeller to hit the ground. After a course of some 150 meters, the aircraft hit a telephone pole and wires and then crashed in flames in a garden. Five passengers and the radio operator were killed while 8 other people were injured, some of them seriously. The remaining then occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot in command suffered a spatial disorientation shortly after liftoff when the landing light was switched off. Due to the absence of ground visual reference and the poor visibility caused by night, the pilot lost his orientation and the control of the aircraft. It was also determined that the crew was tired at the time of the accident because he accumulated more than 11 flying hours per day during the last three days prior to the accident. Also, the lack of assistance on part of the copilot was considered as a contributory factor.