Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashauz: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1973 at 0811 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-71209
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tashauz - Darvaza - Ashkhabad
MSN:
184 392 08
YOM:
1951
Flight number:
SU112
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
16994
Aircraft flight cycles:
15770
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed while the right engine lost power. The aircraft's speed dropped to 70 km/h when, at a height of 50 meters, it stalled and crashed in an open field located about 3 km from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A failure in the fuel supply system caused both engines to partially stop during initial climb, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Tashauz: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1973 at 0719 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70212
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G138-30
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1029
Aircraft flight cycles:
3275
Circumstances:
During a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz (state farm) "40 let Turkmenskoi SSR" in the region of Tashauz, the single engine airplane collided at a height of 4 metres with a telephone pole located near the villages of Kommunizm and Udarnik (north-west of Tashauz) while flying against the low morning sun. The airplane crashed 120 metres further on, came to rest upside down, caught fire and burnt out. The captain was seriously injured while the copilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to sea and avoid the telegraph pole while flying against the sun.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-25588
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G61-14
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of speed after rotation for unknown reason.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Mary

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46552
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mary – Ashgabat
MSN:
87304506
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mary Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 meters, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for a safe landing. While descending to Mary, the crew realize he could not reach the airport so he attempted a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Darvaza: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1965 at 0957 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-64842
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tashauz – Darvaza – Ashgabat
MSN:
64 01
YOM:
1949
Flight number:
SU112
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
8758
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Darvaza Airport in excellent weather conditions, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left to an angle of 30°, nosed down and crashed in flames in a desert area located 4 km from the runway end, about 600 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines stopped during initial climb as the fuel selector was positioned on the front right fuel tank which was empty at the time of the accident. Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Ashgabat: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1963 at 1934 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75765
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Krasnovodsk – Ashgabat
MSN:
181 0034 04
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU191
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
2098
Aircraft flight cycles:
1213
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Krasnovodsk Airport at 1804LT and shortly after takeoff, the crew was informed about weather conditions at destination with a sand storm and a visibility limited to 1,000 meters. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters, weather conditions worsened and the crew obtained the permission to modify his route. At a distance of 25 km from Ashgabat, the crew started the descent and reached the altitude of 400 meters when he reported the runway lights in sight. Shortly later, the airplane became unstable and lost height. It banked left to an angle of 7°, struck power cables and a concrete post. Out of control, it banked left to an angle of 30°, stalled and crashed in flames 1,012 meters short of runway threshold. Eight crew members and four passengers were killed while 42 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Wrong decision on part of the crew who continued the approach in below minima weather conditions. Errors on part of ATC were also reported as they cleared the crew to land in below minima weather conditions and failed to divert the crew to another airport. It was also determined that the information transmitted to the crew relating to weather conditions at destination did not reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Karaul-Kuyu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1962 at 0904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07968
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chardzhou – Mary
MSN:
1 47 473 02
YOM:
30
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
3300
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a cargo flight from Chardzhou to Mary, carrying 40 bottles of sulfuric acid for a total of 1,200 kg. 18 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters, smoke spread in the cabin and a fire erupted. The copilot elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck a small dune and crashed in flames near Karaul-Kuyu, south of Chardzhou. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were seriously injured (burned). Two days later, the copilot died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from the ignition of the sulfuric acid in flight. Investigations stated that the cargo was not properly packaged and that the flight was not dispatched according to the procedures in force referring to dangerous goods transportation.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashauz

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1946 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4278
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Tashauz
MSN:
184 229 07
YOM:
4
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
869
Circumstances:
During the last segment, while at a height of 10 meters, the crew reduced power on both engines when a fire erupted on the left wing. The pilot in command completed the landing and after touchdown, made an emergency brake procedure. When the aircraft came to a halt, all 16 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were unhurt. The aircraft burnt for about 12-14 minutes and was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the person in charge to refuel the aircraft in Ashgabat Airport failed to properly close the left fuel tank cap. This was possible because the fuel filter was not correctly set in the fuel line. This led fuel to leak in flight and on approach, the fuel spilled along the wing root, over the wing and eventually caught fire while in contact with high temperature elements of the left engine.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Darvaza: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1946 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L35
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Darvaza
MSN:
6445
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3536
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Ashgabat to Darvaza, carrying a load of various goods for a total weight of 2,400 kilos. On final approach to Darvaza Airport, the aircraft adopted a high nose attitude and then stalled before crashing in a desert area located one km short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the left elevator failed on final approach due to the failure of several bolts located on the inner part of the elevator. This was the result of a faulty maintenance on the part of the technicians of the company. Wrong reaction on part of the crew was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Chardzhou

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1945 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L41
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Chardzhou – Alma Ata
MSN:
5457
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Ashgabat to Chardzhou (now Türkmenabat) of a positioning flight from Ashgabat to Alma Ata for overhaul by ARM-405 when the right engine failed near Repetek. The pilot decided to go around on landing at Chardzhou as he was unable to make out the landing T, being blinded by flying against the sun, the aircraft lost height and speed while flying a left turn. The pilot did not cope with the situation so the aircraft collided with an irrigation canal and trees 4 km from the airfield, lost its landing gear, flaps and ailerons and crash landed. Both outer engines broke of. All seven occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot in command and inadequate decisions caused the aircraft to lose height and crash on final.