Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2V in Sovetskiy

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09281
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sovetskiy - Tyumen
MSN:
1G23-30
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the airplane entered a high nose attitude. The pilot-in-command reduced the engine power when the airplane crashed back onto the runway and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on part of the crew who decided to takeoff with an aircraft from which the total weight was about 248 kilos over the MTOW. Also, the CofG was out of the envelope too far aft, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Kompong Som

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
B-1553
Flight Phase:
MSN:
20434
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in Kompong Som after an in-flight collision with a Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, The occupant's fate and the exact circumstances of the mishap remains unknown.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Ternei: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1975 at 1004 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-05655
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Terney - Amgu - Kuznetsovo
MSN:
13247307
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
13354
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Terney Airfield, while climbing to a height of 30 meters, the airplane adopted an excessive angle of attack. In a nose-up attitude, it banked left then stalled and crashed in flames in a potatoes field. The captain and five passengers were injured while all 10 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly as the total weight of the aircraft was 449 kilos above the MTOW and the CofG was out of the enveloppe, too far aft. This caused the airplane to enter a high angle of attack during the initial climb and to stall and crash.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M near San Carlos de Bariloche: 52 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1975 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-72
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
El Palomar - San Carlos de Bariloche
MSN:
10404
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
52
Aircraft flight hours:
4953
Aircraft flight cycles:
5236
Circumstances:
The airplane departed El Palomar Airbase in Buenos Aires on a flight to San Carlos de Bariloche, carrying 47 soldiers and their family members. There were also two Uruguayan citizens on board. While approaching San Carlos de Bariloche Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Lopez located about 34 km west of runway 11 threshold. The wreckage was found few hours later and none of the 52 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent prematurely when he did not have sufficient ground assistance. It is possible that the crew was unaware of the strength of the wind in the area when the accident occurred, winds that caused the aircraft to divert from the prescribed approach path.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Lalibela: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
ET-ABR
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4297
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
33626
Circumstances:
On approach to Lalibella Airport, the airplane was hit by ground fire, lost altitude and crashed short of runway. At least one occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster near Pleiku: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1975 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XV-NUJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vientiane - Saigon
MSN:
10701
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet en route from Vientiane to Saigon, the crew informed ATC about his position over PE5 on the G67 airway when contact was lost. The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located about 25 km southwest of Pleiku. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants have been killed, among them a Swiss citizen in charge of the medical missions of the Red Cross in Vietnam.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft has been shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Anchorage

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8416F
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
402-0264
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Anchorage-Merrill Field Airport due to an excessive accumulation of frost on wings and fuselage. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Altayskoye: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1975 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-55529
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Barnaul - Biisk - Altayskoye
MSN:
14547311
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
SU361
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
17808
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Barnaul Airport at 0945LT bound for Altayskoye with an intermediate stop at Biisk. For unknown reason, the crew did not land in Biisk and continued directly to Altayskoye. Approaching Altayskoye, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with light snow and a visibility limited to 1,500 - 2,500 meters due to low clouds. While cruising at an altitude of 820 meters, the left wings struck tree tops. The pilot increased engine power and the airplane continued to fly for about 200 meters during six seconds when he reached a critical angle of attack, stalled and crashed on the south slope of the Mt Vereskovaya located 12,5 km from Altayskoye. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found a day later, in the morning of March 8, at an altitude of 890 meters in a rocky area. The copilot and four passengers were seriously injured while 10 other occupants were killed. A day later, on March 9, the copilot and a passenger died from their injuries.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew lost his orientation while flying in poor visibility and below the minimum safe altitude. Lack of ATC assistance and a weather bulletin that was not reflecting the actual weather conditions published by the Barnaul weather bureau were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110C Bandeirante in São Paulo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1975 at 0633 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SBE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo - Bauru - Araçatuba
MSN:
110-021
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
VP640
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 34 at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the crew reported problems with the right engine and attempted to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located in the district of Campo Belo near the airport. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. There were no victims on the ground.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reason.