Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Leningrad: 109 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1974 at 1807 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75559
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad - Zaporozhie - Krasnodar
MSN:
186 0077 03
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
102
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
109
Aircraft flight hours:
18358
Aircraft flight cycles:
7501
Circumstances:
Less than three minutes after takeoff from Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the engine n°4, declared an emergency and was cleared to return. About three minutes later, the engine n°4 caught fire and exploded. On final, the airplane went out of control, nosed down by an angle of 60° and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located 2,480 meters short of runway. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and most of the debris were found 242 meters to the right of the extended centerline. None of the 109 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the third stage of the high pressure turbine disintegrated two minutes and 53 seconds after takeoff. The engine then exploded three minutes later and some debris impacted the right aileron that was jammed in a down position while the left aileron was in a up position. This asymmetric situation contributed to the loss of control on short final.

Crash of a Boeing 707-321C near Denpasar: 107 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1974 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N446PA
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hong Kong - Denpasar - Sydney - Suva - Honolulu - Los Angeles
MSN:
19268/544
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
PA812
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
96
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
107
Captain / Total flying hours:
18247
Captain / Total hours on type:
7192.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6312
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4776
Aircraft flight hours:
27943
Aircraft flight cycles:
9123
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Hong Kong-Kai Tak, the crew started the descent to Denpasa-Ngurah Rai Airport by night and limited visibility. While descending to runway 09 at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane initiated a turn to 263° when it struck the slope of Mt Masehe located about 68 km from the airport. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 107 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The premature execution of a right-hand turn to join the 263 degrees outbound track which was based on the indication given by only one of the ADF's while the other one was still in steady condition.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Kutaisi

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-33085
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1140 473 15
YOM:
1960
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over the mountainous terrain near Kutaisi, the single engine aircraft was caught by a downdraft, lost height and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 near Hilo: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1974 at 0941 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N28358
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kailua-Kona – Kahului
MSN:
BA-755
YOM:
1969
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
4490
Captain / Total hours on type:
522.00
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located northwest of Hilo. The wreckage was found a day later and all 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot was flying under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. High obstructions and low ceiling were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Kazan

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87369
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kazan - Bugulma
MSN:
9 34 19 31
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
31
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, after a distance of 650 meters, the engine n°2 failed. The captain decided to continue the takeoff procedure but power and speed were insufficient to rotate. In such conditions, he abandoned the takeoff maneuver but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and eventually collided with a earth mound. The cockpit was destroyed. All 34 occupants were evacuated, some of them were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong decisions on part of the captain who continued the takeoff procedure with one engine almost inoperative. Investigations revealed that engine n°2 lost 90% of its power during the takeoff roll for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Gemena

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9Q-CBH
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43095
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 29 at Gemena Airport, during the last segment, the four engine airplane lost height and struck the ground 100 meters short of runway threshold. The airplane went out of control and crash landed. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft lost height on short final after being caught by downdrafts.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14P in Ust-Kuyga

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52053
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
047704110
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure when the flight engineer inadvertently raised the landing gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for dozen meters before coming to rest. All 18 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Inadvertent raise of the undercarriage after landing.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28D-1 Skyservant in Elim

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1974 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3799
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nome - Elim
MSN:
4005
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4745
Captain / Total hours on type:
53.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Elim Airstrip, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with a snow bank and a snow removal machine. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Overrun and collision with snowbank after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain and failed to initiate a go-around. The following factors was reported:
- Ice/slush on runway.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a Beechcraft 99 in Brunswick

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1974 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N848NS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brunswick - Atlanta
MSN:
U-077
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8900
Captain / Total hours on type:
130.00
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Brunswick-Malcolm McKinnon Airport, a fie erupted on board and the crew immediately stopped the airplane. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of fire could not be determined. However, heavy deposit of black soot was found in area adjacent to the power distribution panel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Kirov: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1974 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-73960
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kirov - Sovetsky
MSN:
184 366 05
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
7589
Aircraft flight cycles:
6485
Circumstances:
After a takeoff distance of 430 meters completed in 26 seconds, the pilot-in-command initiated the rotation at a speed of 120 km/h. The airplane continued to climb when, at a height of 10 meters, the left engine failed. The airplane continued to climb until a height of 50 meters when it banked left to an angle of 80° then stalled and crashed at a speed of 170 km/h not far from the runway end. While all six passengers were injured, all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine malfunction was caused by the failure of the 9th cylinder valve. Wrong reaction from the crew caused the speed to drop too low, causing the aircraft to stall and crash. Poor flight organization, poor crew training supervision were considered as contributing factors as well as the fact that the captain decided to takeoff without a flight engineer.