Region
Asia

Ground fire of a Tupolev TU-154B-2 at Veshchevo AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1988 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-154
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-85413
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk - Kurgan - Leningrad
MSN:
80A413
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
SU3739
Location:
Veshchevo AFB
Leningrad oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
76
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
11411
Aircraft flight cycles:
4669
Circumstances:
At 1453LT, while in cruising altitude over Vologda on a flight from Irkutsk to Leningrad via Kurgan, a group of 11 hijackers (all from the same Oveshkin Family) informed the cabin crew that a bomb was on board and requested to be flown to London. The captain explained that he did not have sufficient fuel to fly to UK and proposed to make a stopover in Finland. In accordance with the authorities and his corporate, the captain eventually landed at the Veshchevo Airbase located 105 km northwest of Leningrad, near the Finnish border. After landing, hijackers realized they were not in Finland and open fire in the cabin. As a door could be open by a crew member, police officers entered the cabin and open fire as well. When the hijackers realized their hijacking attempt failed, two of them committed suicide. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire and nine people were killed, five hijackers, one stewardess and three passengers. 19 other people were injured in the event.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the group of 11 hijackers were all from the same family Oveshkin, members of the jazz band christened 'Seven Simeons'. After several concerts in Japan, they were making a tour in the Soviet Union but wanted to escape to Europe. Investigations determined that one of the band bag containing a double bass was too big to be brought in the cabin but the passengers convinced the personnel at the airport to have it in the cabin. Visual and tactile controls performed by the ground security personnel was inadequate, so they failed to realize that few hand grenades and two sawed shotguns were placed in the double bottom of the double bass bag.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Surgut: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1988 at 0607 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65675
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minsk – Kuybyshev – Tyumen – Surgut
MSN:
2 35 17 05
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
SU7867
Location:
Surgut
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
18900
Aircraft flight cycles:
12656
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Kuybyshev, the crew initiated the descent to Surgut Airport by night. The visibility was reduced due to marginal weather conditions. On approach, ATC instructed the pilot to modify his trajectory and to follow the glide as the aircraft deviated to the left. At this time, it is believed that the captain got distracted. After the crew passed the decision height, the captain continued the approach despite the fact he did not establish any visual contact with the runway lights and failed to initiate a go-around. At a height of 38 meters and a speed of 286 km/h, the aircraft passed 50 meters to the left of the threshold and the captain decided to continue. ATC instructed the crew to go-around when, one second later, the aircraft touched the ground of a snowy field some 714 meters past the runway threshold and 113 meters to the left of the runway. With a positive acceleration of 4,8 g, the aircraft lost its right wing and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. 31 people were injured while 20 others were killed, among them the copilot.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew adopted a wrong approach configuration and took the decision to continue the approach after passing the decision height without establishing any visual contact with the runway lights. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The captain got distracted,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- The approach lights were not activated,
- The visibility was reduced due to the night and marginal weather conditions,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Poor approach planning,
- Inaccurate information were transmitted to the crew related to weather conditions and visibilty.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Barnaul

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1988
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-66092
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Barnaul
Altai Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed shortly after takeoff but the crew reaction was inappropriate and the aircraft crashed. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Saskylakh

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1988
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01648
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1G82-42
YOM:
1967
Location:
Saskylakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Nizhnevartovsk: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1988 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87549
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nizhnevartovsk - Tyumen - Bugulma
MSN:
9 53 14 42
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
SU29674
Location:
Nizhnevartovsk
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Aircraft flight hours:
13978
Aircraft flight cycles:
14766
Circumstances:
Liftoff was completed at a speed of 220 km/h after a course of 1,700 meters. Immediately after takeoff, at a height of 2 meters, engines n°2 and 3 lost approximately 20% of power. Few seconds later, the engine n°1 also suffered a power reduction of about 10%. The aircraft then rolled to the right to an angle of 60°, lost height and crashed in a field located 1,800 meters past the runway end, bursting into flames. Four passengers were seriously injured while 27 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of power on all three engines could not be determined with certainty, also due to the absence of evidences, efficient recording systems and testimony from the crew who were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P in Okunevo

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1987
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02531
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G121-15
YOM:
1970
Location:
Okunevo
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff while being overloaded. No casualties.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P in Lugovoi

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1987
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70277
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G139-36
YOM:
1972
Location:
Lugovoi
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Prior to takeoff from Lugovoi, 50 bags of fish (25 kilos each) and other stuff were loaded on board the aircraft. After liftoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height and its speed was too low. It rolled to the right then lost height and crashed. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft's weight was 1,200 kilos above MTOW.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kingisepp

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1987
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40253
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G220-43
YOM:
1986
Location:
Kingisepp
Leningrad oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BK in Komsomolsk-on-Amur: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-12162
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9 3 467 02
YOM:
1969
Location:
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
7411
Aircraft flight cycles:
3162
Circumstances:
The crew started the takeoff procedure from a snow covered runway with a tailwind component. The aircraft lifted off at the end of the runway then collided with two airport vehicles. It nosed down and crashed on a car workshop located near the airport, bursting into flames. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a poor flight preparation on part of the crew who took wrong decisions as well as airport authorities. The following findings were reported:
- The runway was contaminated with wet snow and whose thickness exceeded the permissible limit,
- The crew decided to takeoff with a tailwind of 21 km/h, which made the runway distance insufficient given the flight conditions,
- The runway was not properly cleared of snow,
- The crew failed to abandon the takeoff procedure in a timely manner.
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