Region
Asia

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Mozdok

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2519
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Grozny – Mineralnye Vody
MSN:
166
YOM:
1938
Location:
Mozdok
Republic of North Ossetia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a cargo flight from Grozny to Mineralnye Vody. After takeoff, the pilot realized that the mountains were shrouded in clouds so he modified his route and flew to Gudermes and Mozdok. Approaching Mozdok, he encountered low clouds and decided to return when the airplane collided with a meteo antenna and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Violation of the published procedures on part of the pilot,
- The pilot modified his route,
- The decision of the pilot to return was taken too late.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Ust-Bolsheretsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1939 at 1632 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2295
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Ust-Bolsheretsk
MSN:
10189
YOM:
1937
Location:
Ust-Bolsheretsk
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
313
Circumstances:
During the day, the pilot already performed twice the flight between Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Ust-Bolsheretsk. After passing over Apacha, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility dropped to zero due to heavy snow falls. Nevertheless, the pilot attempted to land at Ust-Bolsheretsk and continued the approach when he lost control of the airplane that crashed six km east of the destination airfield. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The decision of the pilot to initiate an approach in below-minima weather conditions. Lack of discipline on part of the pilot and his failure to return in time were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Aramil

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Kalinin K-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L523
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6
YOM:
1930
Location:
Aramil
Sverdlovsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Sverdlovsk with three passengers on board, three crew members, a load of 257 kg of fret and 38 kg of mail. Few minutes after takeoff, the engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Aramil, southeast of Sverdlovsk Airport. All six occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a malfunction of the crankshaft. It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 150 kg above MTOW, which caused the failure of the crankshaft because the engine was subject to high contribution.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Naurskaya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1938 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A988
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Naurskaya - Naurskaya
MSN:
12171
YOM:
1938
Location:
Naurskaya
Republic of Chechnya
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
At the end of the afternoon, before returning to Grozny, the pilot invited three farmers for a tour. After takeoff, at a height of 35 metres, the pilot initiated a sharp turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed 25 metres from the railway station, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane stalled during a sharp turn to the left due to an insufficient speed. The pilot was not allowed to perform such private flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew of the DC-3, among them Head of Staff Lisikov, was taking part to a SAR mission after a Tupolev ANT-37bis (TB-3) registered CCCP-N037 and named 'Rodina' was missing in the region of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. While cruising in formation with another TB-3, the pilot made a mistake, causing the DC-3 to struck the top of the empennage of the TB-3. The DC-3 entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. All five occupants were killed. The fate of the other aircraft is unknown.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Bataysk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1938 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh924
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bataysk - Bataysk
MSN:
5300
YOM:
1933
Location:
Bataysk
Rostov 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:
1422
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bataysk on a local training mission with two pilots on board. A second U-2 registered CCCP-L956 took off shortly earlier with also two pilots on board. Sh924 was following L956 when the first aircraft slowed at a speed of 80-85 km/h so the second aircraft could approach. At a height of about 40 metres, the pilot of L956 initiated a turn when both airplanes collided and crashed in a field located 1,5 km from the airport. Two pilots survived and two others were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor organization of the training mission on part of the instructors at Bataysk Airport. Also the crew precipitated the mission and failed to maintain a safe distance while flying in formation.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Bataysk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1938 at 0540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L956
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bataysk - Bataysk
MSN:
7143
YOM:
1935
Location:
Bataysk
Rostov 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:
1003
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bataysk on a local training mission with two pilots on board. A second U-2 registered CCCP-Sh924 took off shortly later with also two pilots on board. Sh924 was following L956 when the first aircraft slowed at a speed of 80-85 km/h so the second aircraft could approach. At a height of about 40 metres, the pilot of L956 initiated a turn when both airplanes collided and crashed in a field located 1,5 km from the airport. Two pilots survived and two others were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor organization of the training mission on part of the instructors at Bataysk Airport. Also the crew precipitated the mission and failed to maintain a safe distance while flying in formation.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Novosibirsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1938 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1900
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Omsk
MSN:
9548
YOM:
1935
Location:
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
2269
Circumstances:
During the flight preparation, the pilot was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions en route. Nevertheless, he took off from Novosibirsk Airport at 0310LT on a cargo flight to Omsk. The aircraft was also carrying a load of 184 kg of camphor. Immediately after takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and fog. The pilot continued for about five minutes when the airplane crashed in a wooded area located 7 km north of the airport. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was not sufficiently trained and the aircraft was not equipped for a night IFR flight. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to low clouds and fog. The pilot probably lost control of the airplane after becoming disoriented.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Krasnoborsk

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2180
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kotlas – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
125
YOM:
1937
Location:
Krasnoborsk
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kotlas, at a distance of 40 km from his departure point, the pilot entered an area of thunderstorm activity. Rather than to return, he decided to continue when lightning stroke around him. Afraid and disoriented, the pilot cut off the contact and elected to make an emergency landing but finally decided to continue. As the contact was off, the magneto was not functioning so the engine failed to respond. The airplane crash landed in a field and collided with trees. Both occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Beriev MP-1 off Suisaari: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Beriev MP-1
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2550
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shunga – Petrozavodsk
Location:
Suisaari
Republic of Karelia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching the destination, the float plane suffered a structural failure and started to disintegrate in the air before crashing into the Lake Onega off Suisaari. All seven occupants were killed.
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