Crash of a Yakovlev AIR-6 in Vyksa: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1936 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-K142
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vyksa - Vyksa
MSN:
7802
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Without any permission, the pilot took off at 1542LT from Vyksa Airfield with two passengers on board. The purpose of the flight was to land at the new airfield under construction that should be deserving the Drugs Factory in Vyksa. The pilot completed two low approaches, one of them passing below high tension cables. While on a third approach, the airplane passed over houses then the pilot made a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that crashed onto houses, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed and there were no casualties on the ground. Two hours, eight apartments and one grange were destroyed. The airplane was owned by Narkomzdrav, the People's Commission for Health.
Probable cause:
Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who initiated the flight without prior permission and lost control of the airplane after performing hazardous manoeuvres at low altitude over houses.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti S.55 off Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1936 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L996
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinski – Viakhtu – Khabarovsk
MSN:
10528
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
741
Circumstances:
The float plane was scheduled to depart Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky on a regular service to Khabarovsk with an intermediate stop in Viakhtu, carrying three passengers and four crew members. Several times during the day, the takeoff was postponed due to swell and strong winds. At each time, the crew spotted wooden logs floating on water. In the evening, as the weather seems to be a little better, the crew decided to take off, facing wind. During the takeoff roll, shortly prior to rotation, the airplane collided with wooded logs. Both floats were partially torn off, the airplane nosed down and plunged into the water, coming to rest few hundred metres offshore. Six people were quickly rescued while a passenger drowned. The aircraft was towed to shore but later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with wooden logs while taking off from. Poor flight preparation on part of the crew who failed to ensure that the takeoff area was cleared of obstacles.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Kurgan: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1936 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L599
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Kurgan – Sverdlovsk
MSN:
95
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
692
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Novosibirsk on a flight to Sverdlovsk with an intermediate stop in Kurgan, carrying one passenger and two crew members. On final approach to Kurgan Airport, at a height of 200 metres, the pilot initiated a turn to the left when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Tobol River, one km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The aircraft was incorrectly loaded, resulting in a loss of longitudinal controllability;
- The total weight of the aircraft was 300 kilos over the maximum allowable landing weight;
- The engine stopped on approach because the tank to which the fuel selector was connected was empty;
- Lack of knowledge on the part of the crew regarding the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft;
- Poor piloting techniques.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1936 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1744
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Komsomolsk-on-Amur – Nijnetambovskoye – Bogorodskoye – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
MSN:
9464
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
175
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Khabarovsk to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur with intermediate stops in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Nijnetambovskoye and Bogorodskoye. On final approach to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur Airport, weather conditions deteriorated quickly. The visibility was less than one km due to snow falls. On final, the airplane crash landed in a snow covered field located 4 km short of runway. The pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an impact with the ground when the pilot was apparently attempting an emergency landing while flying in poor weather conditions (low visibility due to snow falls).
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The weather information transmitted to the crew were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual weather conditions at destination,
- Poor flight organization,
- The pilot's inability to fly in instruments conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Nikolayevsk-on-Amur: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1936 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1617
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Komsomolsk-on-Amur – Nijnetambovskoye – Bogorodskoye – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
MSN:
9426
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
717
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Khabarovsk to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur with intermediate stops in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Nijnetambovskoye and Bogorodskoye. On the final leg from Bogorodskoye, while approaching Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, weather conditions deteriorated quickly. The visibility was less than one km due to snow falls. Apparently, the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted the top of a hill and crashed on snowy ground about 12 km northwest of Nikolayevsk-on-Amur Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an impact with the ground when the pilot was apparently attempting an emergency landing while flying in poor weather conditions (low visibility due to snow falls).
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The weather information transmitted to the crew were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual weather conditions at destination,
- Poor flight organization,
- The pilot's inability to fly in instruments conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Tyr

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1078
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Komsomolsk-on-Amur – Nijnetambovskoye – Bogorodskoye – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur
MSN:
6528
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
707
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Khabarovsk to Nikolayevsk-on-Amur with intermediate stops in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Nijnetambovskoye and Bogorodskoye. On the leg from Bogorodskoye, weather conditions deteriorated quickly. The visibility was less than one km due to snow falls. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when a wing impacted the ground and the airplane crashed in a snow covered field located 2,5 km east of the village of Tyr, 60 km southwest of Nikolayevsk-on-Amur Airport. The pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an impact with the ground when the pilot was apparently attempting an emergency landing while flying in poor weather conditions (low visibility due to snow falls).
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The weather information transmitted to the crew were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual weather conditions at destination,
- Poor flight organization,
- The pilot's inability to fly in instruments conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Novgorod: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1936 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1781
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novgorod – Leningrad
MSN:
7617
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Novgorod Airport at 1410LT on a flight to Leningrad, carrying one pilot and one passenger, a fire inspector. At the time of departure, weather conditions were as follow: horizontal visibility 1,500 - 2,000 metres, vertical visibility 150 - 170 metres and wind 2-3 m/s. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and according to the engine noise, it is understood that the airplane was not flying in the direction of Leningrad but Kresttsy instead. Nevertheless, the pilot apparently attempted to return to the airport when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed one km from the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in clouds. His decision to takeoff in clouds and without received a weather bulletin prior to departure are considered as contributing factors.