Region
Asia

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Optukha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1934 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L787
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv
MSN:
5684
YOM:
1932
Location:
Optukha
Orel 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:
313
Aircraft flight cycles:
185
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow at 2255LT on June 5 on a night mail flight to Kharkiv, carrying one pilot and a load of 728 kilos of mail. While cruising at a height of 50 metres over the valley of Oka, weather conditions deteriorated with heavy clouds, drizzle and low ceiling. After completing two turns, the pilot did not realize he lost too much altitude when the airplane impacted ground and crashed in a field located 5 km south of Optukha. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following an error of judgement on part of the pilot regarding the aircraft's altitude during a flight through difficult weather conditions. A poor flight planning was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Karatkansk: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1934 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1075
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Omsk
MSN:
6434
YOM:
1933
Location:
Karatkansk
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:
491
Aircraft flight cycles:
152
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Novosibirsk Airport at 1740LT on a mail flight to Omsk. After passing over Tatarsk, weather conditions worsened with low ceiling, heavy rain falls and strong winds up to 57 km/h. After entering clouds, the pilots lost his bearings and elected to return to Tatarsk but the local beacon was unserviceable due to poor weather conditions. The pilot turned several minutes and probably attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted ground and crashed in a field located 5 km south of the Karatkansk Station. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an impact with the ground at high speed while the pilot had lost all bearings in an unfavorable environment.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The person in charge to provide weather bulletin prior to departure from Novosibirsk failed to transmit accurate weather reports to the pilot;
- The person in charge to provide same services en route (at the intermediate weather station) also failed to provide accurate information;
- The pilot took the decision to continue the flight through clouds and below the altitude of 200 metres.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-27 off Taganrog: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-27
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Taganrog - Taganrog
MSN:
01
YOM:
1934
Location:
Taganrog
Rostov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew consisted of pilots and engineers working for the Russian Central Institute for Aerodynamic Study (TsAGI - Tsentralniy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut). The aircraft, a three engine seaplane, was the first prototype and was involved in a series of test flights. While taking off on rough sea off Taganrog, the aircraft hit a first wave and then plunged just to a next wave. The pylon of the central engine located on the roof broke off, causing the engine to fell into the cockpit, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Povarovo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1934 at 0446 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscou – Leningrad
MSN:
7322
YOM:
1934
Location:
Povarovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
65
Aircraft flight cycles:
20
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow Airport at 0420LT on a night mail flight to Leningrad. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated with low ceiling and intermittent snow falls. While cruising at a height of 100 metres, the airplane entered a right turn, descended to the ground and crashed 2 km from the Poverovo Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control in flight followed by a ground impact with an engine running normally at impact.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor preparation for a night flight in difficult flying conditions due to low ceiling and snow falls;
- The pilot was unfamiliar with the Moscow - Leningrad route;
- Poor flight planning;
- The airspeed indicator only worked intermittently;
- Weather conditions deteriorated significantly during the flight.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-2 in Zalivnaya: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1934 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Putilov Stal-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1127
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Penza – Samara – Orenburg – Tashkent
MSN:
127
YOM:
1934
Location:
Zalivnaya
Samara oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
12
Aircraft flight cycles:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow on February 19 to be delivered to its new base in Tashkent. Intermediate stops were scheduled in Penza, Samara and Orenburg. On the leg from Samara to Orenburg, after a trip of about 205 km, the crew encountered engine problems and made an emergency landing. Due to technical problems, poor weather conditions and awaiting fuel from Orenburg, the crew was stuck for 18 days. Following several engine tests and after all defaults were eliminated, the crew took off on March 11 back to Samara. While flying at a height of 250-300 metres, the engine failed again. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 3 km from the Zalivnaya Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control consecutive to a stall during a turn completed at low altitude following an engine failure in a difficult environment.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Balashov

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1933 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh629
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
5409
YOM:
1932
Location:
Balashov
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
224
Aircraft flight cycles:
1228
Circumstances:
The crew (one cadet and one instructor) departed Balashov Airport at 1240LT on a local training mission. After takeoff, the crew completed two turns then climbed to the altitude of 350 metres and eventually entered clouds. About five minutes after its departure, the aircraft started to descend and reached the speed of 160 km/h. The instructor attempted to regain control but the airplane impacted ground and crashed, coming to rest upside down 4 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilots lost visual contact with the ground after entering the clouds;
- The crew made a decision to reduce altitude and attempt to establish visual contact with the ground rather than continuing under Instrument Flight Rules;
- The crew failed to follow instructions not entering the clouds;
- The crew confusion;
- Insufficient crew training in blind conditions.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Bataysk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1933 at 1038 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kalinin K-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L406
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bataysk - Bataysk
MSN:
165
YOM:
1931
Location:
Bataysk
Rostov 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:
386
Circumstances:
The crew departed Bataysk Airfield on a local training mission. After takeoff, the crew encountered engine problems and the airplane climbed to a max height of about 70 metres before it started to descend. The pilot-in-command attempted to find a suitable terrain for an emergency landing when the aircraft nosed down and crashed, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an engine failure, the cause of which could not be precisely determined due to the total destruction of the plane. However, it is believed that it may be caused by a faulty carburation. The loss of control at low height was the result of a pilot error who did not take the necessary measures to ensure that the aircraft's speed was sufficient while he was confused about the choice of a landing zone in an unfavorable environment. Finally, the horizontal stabilizer was stuck at an inappropriate angle, which was considered as a contributing factor.
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