Region
Asia

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Kontuganovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1933 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kalinin K-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L463
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Yanaul – Kazan
MSN:
267
YOM:
1932
Location:
Kontuganovo
Sverdlovsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
232
Aircraft flight cycles:
58
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Sverdlovsk Airport at 1440LT on a flight to Kazan with an intermediate stop in Yanaul, carrying two passengers and two crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 800 metres, weather conditions worsened with snow showers. The captain reduced his altitude to 300 metres when he encountered blizzard conditions. He eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing near the village of Kontuganovo. While circling at a height of about 50 metres, the left wing impacted a tall tree and the airplane crashed. All four occupants were injured, two seriously. Few hours later, the captain died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the weather bulletin transmitted to the crew prior to departure was not relevant and was reporting local rain showers only. The pilot attempted an emergency in a hilly terrain in very limited visibility.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Nizhne Volzhsky: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1933 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nizhne Volzhsky - Nizhne Volzhsky
MSN:
3434
YOM:
1932
Location:
Nizhne Volzhsky
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:
105
Aircraft flight cycles:
25
Circumstances:
Following several crop spraying flights during the day, the pilot elected to make a test flight with a mechanic before the aircraft would be transferred to Kotelnikovo. After takeoff, the pilot continued at a height of about 100-150 metres then completed some turns before the aircraft started to descent. While turning at an angle of 40-45°, the airplane lost height and crashed nose first. Both occupants were seriously injured and the pilot died from his injuries less than an hour later.
Probable cause:
The pilot initiated an unauthorized test flight and completed sharp turns at a too low altitude and insufficient speed, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Moscow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1933 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Kalinin K-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L455
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv
MSN:
210
YOM:
1932
Location:
Moscow
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:
339
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow at 0815LT on a mail flight to Kharkiv. Approaching Podolsk, weather conditions deteriorated and the captain decided to return to Moscow. But on approach, weather conditions were also poor in Moscow and the visibility was very limited due to fog. On approach, at a height of about 110-120 metres, the airplane collided with an antenna, causing the right wing to be partially torn off. Out of control, the aircraft descended and crashed 65 metres further. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The immediate cause of the accident was the strong deterioration of the weather conditions in Moscow. The aircraft was flying low with stabilizers in a neutral position, confirming it was apparently in a flat attitude. There were no radio in the aircraft and the antenna was not equipped with lights, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-2 into the Lake Baikal: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Putilov Stal-2
Operator:
Registration:
URSS-7
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Moscow – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Location:
Lake Baikal
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow on a test flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. En route, weather conditions worsened with heavy snow falls and icing conditions. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the Lake Baikal. One occupant survived and the second was killed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.62bis off Kulebyakino: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1932 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.62
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Z1
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Irkutsk - Bodaibo
MSN:
OE72
YOM:
1932
Location:
Kulebyakino
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
21
Aircraft flight cycles:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Irkutsk on a cargo flight to Bodaibo, carrying four passengers and a crew of three. While cruising some 40 km from Kirensk, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The captain reduced his altitude, apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 20-30 metres, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Lena River near the village of Kulebyakino, some 15 km southwest of Kirensk. Two passengers were injured while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the pilot was inexperienced on this type of aircraft (this was his third flight on type) and there were four passengers on board while this aircraft was not certified to accept passengers.

Crash of a Dornier Do J Wal in the Matochkine Strait

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Dornier Do J Wal
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N3
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
123
YOM:
1931
Location:
Matochkin Strait
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Matochkine Strait, coming to rest broken in two. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Moscow: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1932 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L128
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
129
YOM:
1932
Location:
Moscow
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
8
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Moscow-Frunze Central Aerodrome in the morning on a local test flight, carrying nine passengers including one child and two crew members, one mechanic and one pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 900 metres, the mechanic informed the pilot about an oil leak below the right engine cowling. The pilot reduced his altitude and decided to divert to the Moscow-Oktyabrskoye Airfield. On final approach, at a height of 125 metres and at a speed of 120 km/h with both central and left engine at full power, the aircraft rolled to the right, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. The pilot and three passengers were killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the oil leak on the right engine was the consequence of the failure of an hydraulic pump. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The aircrafts' speed on approach was insufficient, despite both central and left engine were at full power,
- The pilot was panicking,
- Relative strong wind component at the time of the accident,
- The presence of passengers on board during a test flight, when they could be replaced by lest.
Subscribe to Russia