Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-29387

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Radviliškis - Radviliškis

MSN:

1G79-18

YOM:

1967

Location:

Aukštelkai

Apskritis of Šiauliai

Country:

Lithuania

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1750

Aircraft flight cycles:

14723

Circumstances:

During an unauthorized flight from Šeduva after crop-spraying operations for the sovkhoz (state farm) of Gražionis located near Radviliškis, the intoxicated pilot performed unauthorized manoeuvre at low height with two unauthorized passengers on board. He lost control of the aircraft that lost speed and crashed into the Možaicai forest located near Aukštelkai, 25 km east of Šiauliai, and burnt out. The pilot and both passengers were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during hazardous maneuvers performed by an intoxicated pilot.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Ukhta

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-41295

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G64-10

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an engine failure, the aircraft stalled and crashed near Ukhta. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Satyshevo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1970 at 0610 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32106

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Satyshevo - Satyshevo

MSN:

1G93-12

YOM:

Location:

Satyshevo

Republic of Tatarstan

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1932

Aircraft flight cycles:

6655

Circumstances:

While on a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz 'Mars' located in the Bogatyye Saby district of Tatarstan, the captain fall asleep in the cockpit and let the second pilot in command. During flight, the copilot failed to detect a forest belt in time while flying a turn at low height. The aircraft collided with trees of the forest belt 2 km west of Satyshevo, crashed 170 metres further on, caught fire and burnt out. While a pilot was killed, the second occupant was injured.

Probable cause:

The captain was asleep at the time of the accident and the copilot was managing the mission alone. It was reported that the crew was performing all the spraying missions without any protection, while the pesticides used were highly toxic and dangerous. It was also noted that the altimeters were not connected at the time of the accident.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Magaramkent: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1970 at 0950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-42651

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Akhty – Derbent – Makhachkala

MSN:

1G41-21

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

SU124

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4882

Aircraft flight cycles:

8798

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Akhty Airport at 0932LT on a return flight to Makhachkala with an intermediate stop in Derbent. While cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters, the weather conditions deteriorated with more and more clouds. As the aircraft was flying in the direction of the Mt Gestinkil (2,785 meters high), the captain decided to climb to and altitude of 2,150 meters when the airplane struck the 45° slope of a mountain located in the region of Magaramkent, south part of Dagestan. As the copilot was slightly injured, he walked away to find help. On scene, rescuers were able to evacuate four injured people while two passengers died from their injuries.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain caused by the fact that the crew continued under VFR mode in limited visibility due to clouds. Investigators reported that the airport authorities in Makhachkala and Akhty should not allow the crew to take off because of the deteriorating weather conditions, which remained a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Samarkand

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1970 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75533

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Samarkand – Tashkent

MSN:

180 0025 01

YOM:

1960

Location:

Samarkand

Samarkand Province (Samarqand viloyati)

Country:

Uzbekistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Samarkand Airport, at a speed of 350 km/h, the captain started the rotation when hen realized that the elevators were blocked. He elected to unlock the elevators but the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew who forgot to follow the pre-departure checklist and failed to unlock the elevators prior to takeoff.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10 in Chișinău: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1970 at 1149 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-10

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-11149

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chișinău - Chișinău

MSN:

9 4 008 02

YOM:

1959

Location:

Chișinău

Chișinău City District

Country:

Moldova

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4641

Aircraft flight cycles:

11820

Circumstances:

The crew (seven pilots under supervision) and four instructors, were completing several training flight at Chișinău Airport. Following several manoeuvres, the crew initiated a new approach with both engines n°3 & 4 out of service. On final, the airplane banked left, lost height and crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Poor flying techniques on part of the crew and wrong decisions taken during a missed approach under conditions that did not guarantee the continuation of the flight on two engines. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The approach speed and altitude were below the prescribed values for such manoeuvre,
- The decision of the instructor to initiate a go-around was too late,
- The action to increase power on both left engine was inadapted and insufficient according to the situation,
- The aircraft deviated from the approach path by 1,850 meters,
- The runway at Chișinău Airport was 2,000 meters long, which is insufficient for approach with two engines out,
- The crew failed to inform ATC he was completing an approach with two engines inoperative.

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

Date & Time: May 10, 1970 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32463

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site: