Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Murghob: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1966 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79816
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dushanbe - Murghob
MSN:
1160 473 04
YOM:
1961
Location:
Murghob
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
5087
Aircraft flight cycles:
7483
Circumstances:
On a flight from Dushanbe to Murghob in support of a geological expedition, a fire erupted (probably started by an acetone spill) while the aircraft was flying through the gorge of the river Murghob. The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the rivers Murghob and Zapadny Pshart, some 60 km west of Murghob, but while flying a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed. Both pilots and all 4 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire caused by an accidental spill of acetone in the cabin.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Mys Nalycheva: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1966 at 1728 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79910
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Milkovo – Khalaktyrka
MSN:
1 166 473 02
YOM:
1961
Location:
Mys Nalycheva
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
2711
Circumstances:
On a flight from Milkovo to Khalaktyrka in support of a geological expedition, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (visibility limited to 10 km and snowfall). The crew failed to return and deviated from the prescribed flight path to the left by 17 km. The aircraft crashed at a height of 589 metres into the cloud-covered summit of a hill (594 metres) located in Mys Nalycheva, some 45 km northeast of Khalaktyrka. The wreckage was found a day later and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew decided to continue the flight despite the deterioration of the weather conditions. The failure of ATC to ask the crew to return to Milkovo or to divert to another airport was considered as a contributing factor, as well as the fact that meteorologists failed to inform the crew about the deterioration of the weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Aldan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1960 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98282
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1101 473 09
YOM:
0
Location:
Aldan
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1896
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a geophysical survey flight in the west part of Aldan, Yakutia. At the end of the mission, the crew was returning to the east and while flying face to the sun at a height of 1,046 meters, the single engine aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located about 145 km west of Aldan. The captain and the flight engineer were killed instantly. The flight operator and the navigator were injured and walked away to find help. After four km walk, the navigator died from his injuries and his body was found thirteen days later on July 18. The flight operator eventually find help and was evacuated to a local hospital. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced to one km due to clouds.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to take into consideration the high OAT ( 23°) and its effect on the rate of climb and the airplane's performances. Also, the following factors were considered as contributing:
- The crew failed to make any reconnaissance flight prior to the mission,
- Flying against the sun,
- Poor flight preparation.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Berdsk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1959 at 1306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-84595
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Novosibirsk
MSN:
184 275 08
YOM:
4
Location:
Berdsk
Novosibirsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
9820
Circumstances:
The crew departed Novosibirsk-Severny Airport on a geophysical mission. En route, the right engine failed. Instead of feathering the propeller, the crew attempted few times to restart it but without success. Due to high drag, the airplane lost height and the speed decreased. The captain elected to make an emergency landing on a terrain located between the villages of Morozovo and Tavolgan. At a height of 330 meters, the different probes used for the mission were reinstalled in the cabin when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area. Five crew members were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine failed because the fuel selector was connected to an empty fuel tank. Poor crew coordination and failure to follow the published procedures.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Byelaya Noch: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5643
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seymchan - Byelaya Noch - Seymchan
MSN:
1 54 473 11
YOM:
1955
Location:
Byelaya Noch
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Seymchan at 0305LT on a geological survey flight in the region of the Byelaya Noch and Popovka Rivers. After few maneuvers at an altitude of 760 meters and at a speed of 250 km/h, the crew reduced his speed down to 80 km/h while approaching a mountain (40° slope). The airplane struck the ground with its tail wheel, causing the airplane to drift down and struck the mountain. The pilot made a turn to the left to bring the aircraft back in the direction of the descent to increase the speed but the airplane bounced three times. During the third impact, it came to rest in flames and both mechanic and navigator were ejected from the cockpit and killed instantly. All four occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from poor decisions on the part of the pilot-in-command who, by negligence and lack of discipline, engaged the aircraft in hazardous maneuvers near a mountainous area.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Chukotka

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N567
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1 09 473 04
YOM:
1951
Location:
Russia
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a geophysical mission in the Chukotka okrug. While approaching a mountainous area, the airplane was too low and the pilot elected to gain height. In a steep angle, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a rocky terrain. All occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Lack of experience on part of the pilot-in-command on that kind of mission. Also, the flight was not prepared according to procedures in place.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 on Mt Hor-Taiga: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-G389
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1 13 473 05
YOM:
18
Location:
Mt Hor-Taiga
Republic of Tuva
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
144
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a geophysical survey flight in the Republic of Tuva on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Geology (Ministerstvo Geologii – MinGeo). While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the single engine aircraft hit with its right main gear the top of Mt Hor-Taiga (2,618 meters high) and crashed into a ravine. The flight engineer was killed while four other occupants were injured. Two of them walked away to find help and came back a day later to evacuate the other survivors. The navigator died from his injuries 16 hours later. The aircraft, brand new, was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by a poor flight preparation on part of the crew and the combination of the following factors:
- lack of crew training that failed to guarantee a sufficient flight safety level,
- lack of pilot experience in conducting geophysical survey flights,
- incomplet meteorological informations for mountainous terrain,
- absence of a flight manual and procedures regarding aerial photography missions,
- overconfidence on part of the navigator who had more than five years experience in this type of mission,
- deterioration of weather conditions during flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-110-BO Flying Fortress in Niamey

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1950 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
F-BDAT
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10282
YOM:
1943
Location:
Niamey
Niamey City District
Country:
Niger
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc in Snezhnitsa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-F341
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Snezhnitsa
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During a flight in the Krasnoyarsk region, the crew encountered poor weather which had not been forecast (the mountains in the area of Minino and Snezhnitsa were covered by clouds from 300 to 600 meters). The aircraft crashed near Snezhnitsa, about 30 km west of Krasnoyarsk. All crew members were killed, among them A. A. Prilepko, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc near Turukhansk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-F284
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Podkamennaya Tunguska – Turukhansk
Location:
Turukhansk
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Podkamennaya Tunguska to Turukhansk, after passing over Imbatsk, the aircraft disappeared and was lost without trace.
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