Region
Asia

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Ukhta

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ust-Tsylma - Ukhta
MSN:
264
YOM:
1940
Location:
Ukhta
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ust-Tsylma on a flight to Ukhta, carrying four passengers and a pilot who were in charge to collect election materials. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed 40 km north of Ukhta, coming to rest broken in two. All five occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Leshukonskoye

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2569
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ust-Tsylma - Leshukonskoye
MSN:
176
YOM:
1938
Location:
Leshukonskoye
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was approaching Leshukonskoye on a flight from Ust-Tsylma when it crashed in unknown circumstances 18 km north of Leshukonskoye. All five occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Stavropol: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3405
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rostov-on-Don – Mineralnye Vody
MSN:
84 4
YOM:
1940
Location:
Stavropol
Stavropol Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Rostov-on-Don to Mineralnye Vody, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. In an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Stavropol. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Novosibirsk: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3409
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Omsk – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
02 4 6
YOM:
1940
Location:
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow on a flight to Irkutsk with intermediate stops in Omsk and Novosibirsk. On approach to Novosibirsk Airport, the crew encountered unfavorable weather conditions when the aircraft crashed. Three passengers were rescued while 18 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 2M-17 near Ust-Kut: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2154
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Balagansk – Ust-Kut – Yakutsk
MSN:
12627
YOM:
1937
Location:
Ust-Kut
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1303
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Irkutsk on a flight to Yakutsk with intermediate stops in Balagansk and Ust-Kut, carrying three passengers, two crew members, 240 kg of bagages and 727 kg of mail. Approaching Ust-Kut, the engine lost power and started vibrating. The pilot shut it down and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane clipped trees and crashed in a wooded area located 50 km south of Ust-Kut. The captain was killed while four other occupants were injured. The following day, they walked through the taïga and found rescue.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failed in flight due to a fuel issue that was caused either by:
- the fuel valve was closed;
- a foreign object obstructed the fuel line;
_ the fuel pump failed.

Crash of a Polikarpov SPB in Moscow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov SPB
Operator:
Registration:
2/2
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
02
YOM:
1940
Location:
Moscow-Khodynka
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow-Khodynka Airport on a local test flight on this second example of a new bomber prototype. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and crashed. Both crew members were killed, pilot Lipkin and engineer Bulychov.
Probable cause:
Investigators initially blamed the accident on Polikarpov's deputy Zhemchuzhin, who allegedly failed to fit the balance weights into the leading edges of the ailerons, causing wild flutter. Later they also blamed Lipkin, already dead, for the alleged reckless increase of speed. TsAGI engineers and airfield staff voiced suspicion that other factors could have been involved, but these were not examined at all.

Crash of Polikarpov AP in Chernyshkovsky: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1289
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chernyshkovsky - Chernyshkovsky
MSN:
16618
YOM:
1940
Location:
Chernyshkovsky
Volgograd 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:
38
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a spraying mission on mustard plantation in the region of Chernyshkovsky. After the lunch brake, the pilot decided to make low passes over the village and to show to local people the airplane's capabilities. At a height of 10-12 metres, he initiated hazardous manoeuvres when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on the ground, bursting into flames. The mechanic was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot was intoxicated after drinking vodka during the lunch. He also decided to initiate a flight without prior permission.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Novoe Selo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1940 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3523
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rostov-on-Don – Sochi – Sukhumi – Kutaisi – Tbilisi
MSN:
16/214
YOM:
1938
Location:
Novoe Selo
Krasnodar Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
64
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rostov Airport at 1500LT on a mail flight to Tbilisi with intermediate stops in Sochi, Sukhumi and Kutaisi. About 50 minutes into the flight, while cruising in stormy weather, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field at a speed of 600-700 km/h. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 near Voronezh: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-T3518
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stalingrad – Moscou
MSN:
11/214
YOM:
1938
Location:
Voronezh
Voronezh oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
168
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalingrad at 1647LT on a mail flight to Moscow, carrying three crew members and a load of 113 kg of mail. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and continued his course to the northwest. After flying a distance of about 350 km, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 metres in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field at a speed of 750-800 km/h. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the high degree of destruction, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the loss of control was probably the consequence of icing while cruising at high altitude in clouds, causing a malfunction of the instruments.
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