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Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M in Kiev: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1957 at 2002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2071
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sofia - Kiev
MSN:
7 34 24 08
YOM:
11
Flight number:
SU126
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
833
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Kiev, carrying the luggage of the Chinese Athletics delegation. On approach to Kiev-Zhuliany Airport, while making a turn at an altitude of 250-300 meters, the aircraft collided with an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-14D registered CCCP-L1360 that was carrying four crew members on a local training mission. Investigations determined that the propeller of the right engine of L2071 struck the right wing of the L1360, proving that both airplanes were facing each other. Following the collision, L1360 lost its right wing, dove into the ground and crashed while L2071 lost its right propeller that penetrated the cockpit and killed instantly both pilots. Out of control, the airplane also dove into the ground. Both aircraft crashed onto several houses located 4,5 km from the airport. All 9 crew members were killed as well as six people on the ground. 23 others were injured, 12 of them seriously.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a lack of radar coverage, guidance and assistance on part of the ATC at Kiev-Zhuliany Airport. It was reported that the crew of L2071 was not informed about the presence of a second aircraft performing training maneuvers in the vicinity of the airfield at the same altitude.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14P in Copenhagen: 23 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1957 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1874
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Riga – Copenhagen
MSN:
1460 006 07
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
SU103
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Circumstances:
While descending to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, fog and a limited visibility. At 0617LT, the airplane passed over the Kastrup Airfield at an altitude of 1,500 meters and ATC instructed the crew to start a new approach to runway 12. Due to language difficulties, the crew did not understand properly some of the instructions. Nevertheless, four minutes later, he started an approach to runway 12. Due to low visibility, the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane hit the chimney of the Ørsted Electric Factory located 6,7 km short of runway 12. Upon impact, the right wing was sheared off and the airplane crashed into the Sydhavnen canal. The airplane sank by 5 meters depth and all 23 occupants were killed, among them one Danish, 2 British, one American and three West-German citizens.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach under VFR in IFR conditions and that the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude below the minimum prescribed altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground until the right wing contacted an obstacle. Russian investigators considered that the ATC assistance was insufficient, that weather information transmitted to the crew was incomplete and that the landing clearance was given too early as the crew had two hours fuel reserve and that they should wait for weather improvement.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12P in Magdagachi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1828
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Magdagachi – Khabarovsk
MSN:
9 301 34 15
YOM:
24
Flight number:
SU554A
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
8489
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Magdagachi Airport in marginal weather conditions: broken at 600 meters, few clouds at 330 meters, rain showers and 3 km visibility. The captain descended successively to 700, 400 and 100 meters then adopted a high rate of descent of 10-11 meters per second. The copilot suggested to abandon the landing for a go around procedure but the captain continued the approach when the airplane struck approach lights and crashed short of runway threshold. The flight engineer was killed while all other occupants were injured, the copilot seriously.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach techniques on part of the captain who demonstrated a lack of discipline.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Strizhament: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1957 at 0622 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4825
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Krasnovodsk – Baku – Mineralnye Vody – Krasnodar – Simferopol
MSN:
184 345 10
YOM:
15
Flight number:
SU461
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
8766
Circumstances:
On the leg from Mineralnye Vody to Krasnodar, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. The aircraft struck trees on a distance of 80 meters then stalled and crashed in flames on a plateau located on the Mt Strizhament, about 30 km south of Stravropol. The aircraft was totally destroyed and eight passengers were killed, the other five occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Error on part of the crew who failed to follow the assigned altitude as mentioned on the flight plan. Poor weather conditions, poor flight preparation and lack of assistance on part of the ATC were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Tanyurer

Date & Time: May 5, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3807
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tanyurer - Bolshaya Osinovaya
MSN:
1 55 473 15
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying five scientists and three crew members who were involved in a geological mission of the Bolshaya Osinovaya River. Shortly after takeoff from Tanyurer, at an altitude of 80 meters, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. All eight occupants were rescued and slightly injured while the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor piloting techniques on part of the captain who made too sharp turn to the left at low height (80 meters).

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Ulyanovsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1957 at 1433 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4967
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kuybyshev – Ulyanovsk
MSN:
2 34 428 02
YOM:
6
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
6692
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight to Ulyanovsk to conduct aerial photography of the airplane on behalf of the UAZ factory. While approaching Ulyanovsk at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the left wing suffered a structural failure and partially detached and struck the tail. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a snow covered field located 15 km northeast of Ulyanovsk. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Partial structural failure of the left wing for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Gubistaya: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1957 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1233
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mezen – Gubistaya
MSN:
1 69 473 18
YOM:
22
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
226
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Mezen to Gubistaya, carrying a load of fish. On approach to Gubistaya, weather conditions were poor and the visibility was reduced by fog. Despite the situation, the captain decided to land and continued the approach when the airplane hit trees and crashed. The captain was seriously injured and the copilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Misjudgment on part of the captain who decided to continue the approach in below minima weather conditions. According to procedures, the crew should return to Mezen.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Gora Ioanna: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1956 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5033
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lavrentiya – Uelkal – Anadyr
MSN:
184 356 09
YOM:
31
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
5333
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Uelkal bound for Anadyr with seven passengers on board, a crew of five and 580 kg of various goods. While approaching Anadyr by night, the crew did not realized he was off course by eight km when, at an altitude of 720 meters, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Gora Ioanna (920 meters high) located about 35 km northeast of Anadyr. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the burnt wreckage was found four days later on a 50° slope. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the deviation. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to the night and clouds. The assumption that the aircraft was caught by downdraft was not ruled out.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Irkoutsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1956 at 1442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5658
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Sverdlovsk – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
1460 009 42
YOM:
2
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
29
Circumstances:
After being manufactured at Frunze, the aircraft was on a delivery flight from Moscow to Irkutsk with intermediate stops at Sverdlovsk and Novosibirsk. On final approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the airplane hit the ground 1,315 meters short of runway, bounced, struck a fence and eventually came to rest in a prairie located 550 meters short of runway threshold. The copilot was killed while four other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The flight engineer misinterpreted some instruments settings he failed to transmit to the flying crew in due time. Lack of coordination between pilots was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Sverdlovsk: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1956 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4872
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Gorky – Izhevsk – Sverdlovsk – Omsk
MSN:
184 355 07
YOM:
14
Flight number:
SU039
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
8331
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Izhevsk Airport at 0220LT bound for Sverdlovsk and continued at an assigned altitude of 2,400 meters. On final approach to Koltsovo Airport, at a height of 250 meters, the right engine failed. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed. Both pilots were killed while all three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine because it was connected to a empty fuel tank. Poor flight supervision on part of the flying crew and failure of the crew to switch the fuel selector on a suitable tank in due time.