Region
Asia

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-40 near Sok-Karmala: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2483
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kuybyshev – Sverdlovsk
MSN:
8/J
YOM:
1938
Location:
Severnoe
Orenburg oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1000
Circumstances:
When weather conditions improved, the crew was cleared for takeoff and departed Kuybyshev Airport at 1127LT on a flight to Sverdlovsk. The pilot continued the flight at an altitude of 50 metres and once he arrived over the village of Sok-Karmala, he encountered foggy conditions. In low visibility, the airplane impacted trees, lost height and crashed 135 metres further, bursting into flames. The flight engineer was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot who continued the flight at an unsafe altitude in insufficient visibility caused by foggy conditions until the airplane collided with obstacles.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Khvoynaya: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3922
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Khvoynaya – Leningrad
MSN:
184 14 06
YOM:
1941
Location:
Khvoynaya
Novgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, after takeoff from Khvoynaya Airfield, the pilot continued at a too low altitude. Five minutes after liftoff, the airplane collided with pine trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located 7 km from the airport. All five crew members were killed while the passenger, wounded, walked away and found help the following day. For undetermined reason, the pilot in command decided to fly at low height after rotation and failed to climb properly. The aircraft was on its way to Leningrad with a load of food.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact reason why the pilot decided to fly at an insufficient height after takeoff.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Saratov

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3973
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kuybyshev – Saratov – Astrakhan – Baku
MSN:
184 18 10
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saratov
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kuybyshev on a flight to Baku with intermediate stops in Saratov and Astrakhan. Shortly after takeoff from Saratov Airport, while in initial climb, both engines lost power, causing the airplane to stall and to crash. All 13 occupants were rescued, among them five were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power caused by a mismanagement of the fuel supply system on part of the crew. It was determined that at the time of the accident, both engines were feeded by the main left tank that was almost empty while sufficient fuel remained on other tanks.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Serpukhov: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1262
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
16600
YOM:
1940
Location:
Serpukhov
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by four German fighters and crashed in the vicinity of Serpukhov, about 90 km south of Moscow. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German fighters.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 near Anadyr: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N274
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Perevalnaya – Anadyr
MSN:
12362
YOM:
1938
Location:
Anadyr
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Approaching Anadyr in marginal weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 80-100 metres, the pilot initiated a turn when the airplane lost speed, stalled and crashed in a snow covered field located 25 km from Anadyr. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to maintain a sufficient speed while performing a turn at a relative low height, causing the airplane to stall.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Arsk

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
168
YOM:
1938
Location:
Arsk
Republic of Tatarstan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Weather conditions deteriorated in flight with poor visibility due to snow falls. Rather than returning to his departure point, the pilot decided to continue when the airplane later crashed in a field located near Arsk. All five occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who took the decision to continue the flight in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 near Kian: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kalinin K-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L589
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mineralnye Vody – Armavir
MSN:
84
YOM:
1930
Location:
Kian
Stavropol Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
3976
Circumstances:
In the morning, the pilot was supposed to take off from Mineralnye Vody to Zimovniki but the flight was cancelled due to poor weather conditions en route. At 1500LT, despite he did not received any permission, he took off with four people on a flight to Armavir. Approaching Kian at an altitude of 300 metres, he encountered thick fog. In limited visibility, he decided to return and initiated a turn to the left when, at a speed of 180 km/h, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed some three km south of the Kian Station. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were injured, three seriously. Few hours later, one of the passengers died from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
The pilot's violation of the procedures in initiating a flight without permission and despite poor weather conditions.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 off Kivgoda: 36 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3987
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
184 20 0?
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kivgoda
Leningrad oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After departure from Leningrad and passing cape Maryin Nos, the airplane was shot down by a Me.109 and crashed into the Ladoga Lake, off the village of Kivgoda. All 36 occupants were killed, among them pilot Ibragim U. Zhantiyev.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Saratov: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1941
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3989
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saratov - Saratov
MSN:
184 21 08
YOM:
1941
Location:
Saratov
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the night from 7 to 8 November 1941, the airplane was damaged (empennage and ailerons) by a storm at Saratov Airport. Technicians proceeded to repairs from 8 to 28 November. On November 29, 4 crew members were engaged in a local test flight. Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the pilot initiated a turn to the left when the airplane rolled to the right and crashed. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the ailerons control cables were wrongly reassembled by the ground technicians in charge of the maintenance.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Naro-Fominsk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1002
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12185
YOM:
1938
Location:
Naro-Fominsk
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane failed to return to base from combat mission and crashed in the region of Naro-Fominsk, southwest of Moscow. Both occupants were killed.
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