Postal (mail) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Port-Étienne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. The crew was completing a regular mail flight from Toulouse to Dakar.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Yelets: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 0526 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2586

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Yelets - Tchern

MSN:

12896

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1857

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Yelets Airport at 0520LT on a mail flight to Tchern. About six minutes later, while cruising in poor visibility due to marginal weather conditions, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the pilot who initiated the flight in the early morning without sufficient visibility and his decision to continue under VFR instead of IFR mode.

Crash of a Faucett F.19 near Puerto de Yesup: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Faucett F.19

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lima - Pucallpa - Iquitos

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a mail flight from Lima to Iquitos, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Puerto de Yesup. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Humberto Herera,
2nd Lt Alejandro Torres.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Kabul

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1942 at 1745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov PR-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2495

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

136

YOM:

1938

Location:

Kabul

Country:

Afghanistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Kabul Airport at night, the airplane crashed in a snow cover field and was destroyed. Both occupants were injured and the diplomatic mail was damaged.

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

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6089

YOM:

1938

Location:

Budapest

Budapest City District

Country:

Hungary

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Budapest and was destroyed. At least one crew member was injured, Ofw Otto Wolf, mechanic.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-43 in Moscow: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-43 (PS-43)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3030

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Moscow - Leningrad

MSN:

530

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

190

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Moscow-Myachkovo Airport at 0855LT on a mail flight to Leningrad, carrying three crew members and one passenger. After takeoff, the airplane climbed to a height of 100 metres over a forest then the pilot initiated a turn to the left, apparently to return to the airport. While approaching the airfield at an altitude of 200 metres, the airplane entered a right turn then nosed down and crashed 200 metres west of the airport, five minutes after takeoff. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the pilot encountered an unexpected situation after takeoff and decided to return for an emergency landing. On final, the airplane apparently stalled due to an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Pilno

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3542

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

15/215

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to his base following a mail flight. While cruising in poor visibility at night, the crew was unable to locate their airport. After a four hours-flight, the crew abandoned the airplane that crashed beyond the enemy line. Both crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Bryukhovetskaya: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-F89

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Simferopol - Moscow

MSN:

9388

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Simferopol on a mail flight to Moscow, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, the pilot descended too low over terrain, causing the undercarriage to struck the ground. The airplane then hit two people working in the field and crashed 66 metres further, bursting into flames. Both passengers were seriously injured while the pilot and two people on the ground were killed. One of the passenger died from injuries sustained the following day.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued the flight at a too low (unsafe) altitude, causing the airplane to touch the ground and to crash.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.91 Albatross in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1941 at 2017 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.91 Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

AX903

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bristol – Reykjavik

MSN:

6800

YOM:

1938

Location:

Reykjavik

Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæði)

Country:

Iceland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane named 'Faraday' departed Bristol-Filton Airport on a mail flight to Reykjavik, carrying five crew members and the military mail. After touchdown, one of the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane veered off runway and collided with a parked Fairey Battle registered L5547. The Albatross was damaged beyond repair and all five crew members escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed after landing.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Kalinin

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-F95

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9384

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying at low height, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near Kalinin (now Tver). The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to lack of discipline on part of the pilot.