Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A near Kurilovka: 94 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1979 at 1335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65816
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chelyabinsk - Voronezh - Kichinev
MSN:
4 35 22 10
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SU7628
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
88
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
94
Aircraft flight hours:
12739
Aircraft flight cycles:
7683
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Voronezh Airport at 1254LT on the last leg of a flight from Chelyabinsk to Kishinev, Moldavia, carrying 88 passengers and a crew of six. At 1317LT, the airplane entered the Kharkiv ARTCC at an altitude of 8,400 meters. The crew requested several times the permission to climb to 9,600 meters but this was denied due to heavy traffic. Eight minutes later, a second Aeroflot Tupolev TU-134AK entered the same ARTCC at an altitude of 5,700 meters. Registered CCCP-65735, it was completing flight SU7880 from Tashkent to Minsk with an intermediate stop in Donetsk. On board were 77 passengers and a crew of seven, among them all staff from the Pakhtakor Tashkent Football Team who should play against the Dynamo Minsk Team in two days. The crew of the second TU-134 was first cleared to climb to 7,200 meters and later to 8,400 meters. The air traffic controller miscalculated the distance and timing between both aircraft. About 90 seconds later, at an altitude at 8,400 meters but on crossing airways, both airplanes collided at an angle of 95° from each other. The right wing of CCCP-65735 struck the cockpit of CCCP-65816. Both aircraft spiralled to the ground, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in fields located around the villages of Kurilovka, Nikolaevka and Elizavetovka, about 35 km northwest of Dnipropetrovsk. Debris were found on a large area and none of the 178 occupants survived the accident.
Probable cause:
The in-flight collision was the consequence of multiple errors on part of the Air Traffic Controller and his instructor in charge of the Kharkiv Southwest Sector. The following factors were reported:
- Violations of the published procedures,
- Poor assistance and negligence on part of ATC in level assignment,
- Non compliance with requirements and regulations in force on part of ATC,
- Non compliance with standard radio phraseology,
- Lack of coordination,
- Intense traffic,
- Stress situation.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134AK near Kurilovka: 84 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1979 at 1335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65735
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tashkent - Donetsk - Minsk
MSN:
1 35 14 05
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
SU7880
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
77
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
84
Aircraft flight hours:
10753
Aircraft flight cycles:
7075
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Donetsk Airport at 1311LT on the last leg of a flight from Tashkent to Minsk. On board were 77 passengers and a crew of seven, among them all staff from the Pakhtakor Tashkent Football Team who should play against the Dynamo Minsk Team in two days. At 1317LT, another TU-134 registered CCCP-65816 entered the Kharkiv ARTCC at an altitude of 8,400 meters. In charge to complete flight SU7628 from Chelyabinsk to Kishinev via Voronezh, the aircraft was carrying 88 passengers and a crew of six. His crew requested several times the permission to climb to 9,600 meters but this was denied due to heavy traffic. Eight minutes later, CCCP-65735 entered the same ARTCC at an altitude of 5,700 meters and his crew was first cleared to climb to 7,200 meters and later to 8,400 meters. The air traffic controller miscalculated the distance and timing between both aircraft. About 90 seconds later, at an altitude at 8,400 meters but on crossing airways, both airplanes collided at an angle of 95° from each other. The right wing of CCCP-65735 struck the cockpit of CCCP-65816. Both aircraft spiralled to the ground, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in fields located around the villages of Kurilovka, Nikolaevka and Elizavetovka, about 35 km northwest of Dnipropetrovsk. Debris were found on a large area and none of the 178 occupants survived the accident.
Probable cause:
The in-flight collision was the consequence of multiple errors on part of the Air Traffic Controller and his instructor in charge of the Kharkiv Southwest Sector. The following factors were reported:
- Violations of the published procedures,
- Poor assistance and negligence on part of ATC in level assignment,
- Non compliance with requirements and regulations in force on part of ATC,
- Non compliance with standard radio phraseology,
- Lack of coordination,
- Intense traffic,
- Stress situation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2M near Krasnaya Polyana: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1979 at 1658 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02330
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Krasnaya Polyana - Krasnaya Polyana
MSN:
7 014 18
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
6627
Aircraft flight cycles:
36248
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local flight consisting in pesticides spraying on vineyards. On board were one agronomist and one pilot. The mission started at 1505LT and two first missions were completed successfully. During the third circuit, while flying at low height, the pilot attempted to avoid power cables and initiated a evasive manoeuvre when the airplane, at a speed of 163 km/h, struck an electric pylon and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an inadvertent loss of altitude due to the pilot being distracted and not paying sufficient attention to the flight.

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

Date & Time: May 10, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-06330
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G69-04
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a field in Svidovets in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties. It appears that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
Overloaded aircraft.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B off Emelyanovka: 26 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1978 at 1941 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46327
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stavropol – Simferopol – Chisinau – Lviv
MSN:
97305504
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SU6515
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
15851
Aircraft flight cycles:
13457
Circumstances:
En route from Stavropol to Simferopol, while cruising at an altitude of 2,400 meters in icing conditions, the left engine failed, followed 14 seconds later by the failure of the right engine. The crew informed ATC about the situation then lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and eventually crashed in the Sivash gulf, about 24 km southeast of Emelyanovka, Crimea, 10 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact, the wreckage sank and all 26 occupants were killed. Refloat operations were conducted from October 24 till November 18, 1978.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was flying in severe icing conditions since 15 to 20 minutes when both engines stopped quite simultaneously. The flying crew failed to follow the emergency procedures and the decision to activate the engine deicing systems was taken too late, a situation that caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable. Analysis revealed that air intakes, turbine blades and inlet guide vanes were covered by ice. The training program that refers to icing conditions was not satisfactory.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Lanovtsy: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978 at 1821 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32599
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lanovtsy - Lanovtsy
MSN:
1G105-13
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
8666
Aircraft flight cycles:
31855
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission near the village of Lanovtsy and completed several manoeuvre during all day. At the end of the afternoon, he informed ground that the mission was over and while completing a last circuit at low altitude, he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a small hill located 1,5 km southwest of Lanovtsy. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control at low level after the crew was distracted and failed to pay attention while flying at an altitude below that prescribed.

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

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1978 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35112
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yablunivka - Yablunivka
MSN:
1G111-38
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
7437
Aircraft flight cycles:
39351
Circumstances:
The crew departed Yablunivka at 1258LT on a crop spraying mission on behalf of the sovkhoz of 'Shlyakh Ilitch'. Seven minutes later, while cruising at a height of 30-70 meters, the crew initiated a right turn when the airplane went out of control, plunged into the earth and crashed at a speed of 226 km/h in an open field located 5 km southeast of Yablunivka. The aircraft did not catch fire but was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after the control column was jammed because a first-aid kit stored in a metallic cylinder box stored below the copilot seat got stuck between the steering column and the seat.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124Sh in Voroshilovgrad

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53 red
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3 35 01 05
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Voroshilovgrad Airport, the crew forgot to lower the undercarriage. The airplane landed on its belly, slid for few dozen meters and came to rest in flames, broken in two. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1977.
Probable cause:
Belly landing after the crew forgot to lower the undercarriage on approach.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Zhdanov: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1977 at 0839 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87738
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dnepropetrovsk - Zhdanov
MSN:
9 01 03 10
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
SU925N
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
5894
Aircraft flight cycles:
6777
Circumstances:
On approach to Zhdanov Airport, while descending between the outer marker and the inner marker, the pilot-in-command decided to continue under VFR mode while the SP-50 ILS system was not yet activated. While approaching the inner marker, the three engine airplane entered an area of fog when visual contact was lost. At an insufficient height, the airplane struck a 9-meter high concrete pole with its right wing that was partially torn off. The aircraft caught fire, rolled to the right at an angle of 90° then crashed 420 meters further. The wreckage was found 610 meters short of runway threshold and 140 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Three crew members and five passengers were killed while 20 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command decided to continue the approach below the glide under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154 in Kiev

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-85020
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
71A-020
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane landed hard at Kiev-Borispol Airport and was considered as damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1976.