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Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Irkoutsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1953 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1727
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Irkutsk – Chita – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
9 301 32 17
YOM:
31
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3429
Circumstances:
About a minute after a night takeoff from Irkutsk-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-120 meters, the captain sent a brief message saying a plane was facing him. He made an immediate sharp turn to the right when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed 2,5 km from the runway end and 500 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Four crew members (the captain, the copilot, the flight mechanic and the radio operator) were killed while all 24 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that no aircraft was present in the vicinity of the climbing Ilyushin II-12 at the time of the accident. The pilot-in-command misinterpreted the light on the top of the inner marker located 4 km from the runway threshold for an incoming aircraft and decided to make in immediate action to avoid any collision.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Bagdarin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1953 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L231
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bagdarin – Romanovka
MSN:
1 03 473 04
YOM:
20
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1035
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the crew hurried the departure from Bagdarin to Romanovka. The aircraft was carrying eight passengers, two pilots, 300 kilos of cargo and 68 kg of mail. The captain asked the copilot to precipitate the takeoff procedure. So as soon as all eight passengers boarded, the crew started the engine, completed the taxi and joined the runway. After a takeoff run of 110 meters, the copilot started the rotation. The aircraft climbed to a height of one meter, continued for about 30 meters and banked left, hit the ground and crashed. Both pilots and one passenger were killed while seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the captain decided to hurry the departure from Bagdarin Airport. Thus, he failed to follow the pre-departure checklist and started the engine and the taxi procedure without making a visual check of the airplane. Investigations determined that the loss of control that occurred after rotation was the consequence of an error on part of the crew who failed to remove a chock that was blocking the ailerons on ground.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Rushan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4027
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Khorugh – Stalinabad
MSN:
184 299 05
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SU878
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1477
Circumstances:
At 0613LT, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the crew informed ATC he just passed over the city of Rushan eight minutes earlier. Shortly later, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered clouds and low visibility. Now at an altitude of 4,800 meters, the aircraft lost height due to strong downdraft and hit the south slope of a mountain located near the Yauza Pass located about 15 km northwest of Rushan. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed. The wreckage was found two days later at an altitude of 4,800 meters, approx 100 meters below the summit.
Probable cause:
The aircraft lost height due to downdraft and at the time of the accident, it was off course because the captain decided to modify his route for undetermined reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Koryak: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1953 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A2638
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Milkovo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
1 15 473 08
YOM:
23
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
1002
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft left Milkovo Airport at 1235LT on a back trip to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with eight passengers and a crew of three on board. The crew continued the flight under VFR at an altitude estimated between 1,200 and 1,300 meters. About an hour into the flight, weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds and rain falls when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 18 km northwest of Koryak. As the airplane failed to arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found three days later in an isolated area. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the flying crew to adhere to the published and prescribed procedures while flying under VFR in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Zugdidi: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1953 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1375
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Rostov-on-Don – Tbilisi
MSN:
30103
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU229
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
3204
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow-Vnukovo Airport at 0520LT on a flight to Tbilisi with an intermediate stop scheduled at Rostov-on-Don. Due to the deterioration of the weather conditions and the presence of a storm between Krasnodar and Sukhumi, the crew decided to modify his route and obtained the permission from ATC to divert to Krasnodar. The crew and the passengers waited for few hours at Krasnodar Airport and the aircraft took off at 1507LT bound for Tbilisi. While cruising under VFR at an altitude of 2,400 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls, turbulence, hail and lightning. Within few minutes, the aircraft was hit by lightning and suffered heavy turbulence so went out of control and entered a dive. At an altitude of 300 meters, the crew elected to regain control but high g forces exceeded the design of the wings that were torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in a wooded and hilly terrain located near the village of Grigorishi, about 15 km northeast of Zugdidi. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by poor weather conditions consisting of thunderstorm activity with heavy rain falls, hail, turbulence and lightning.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Barzas: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4534
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk
MSN:
184 290 05
YOM:
30
Flight number:
SU018
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
3882
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1755LT bound for Novosibirsk with an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. At 1840LT, a second Lisunov LI-2T registered CCCP-A4031 left Novosibirsk Airport bound for Kemerovo with a crew of seven who were involved in an aerial photography mission. While approaching Kemerovo, the captain of the first LI-2 modified his route and flight level without prior permission and passed north of Kemerovo. In excellent weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters to a heading of 270° and facing the sun, the first LI-2 was hit on its right wing and right engine by the second LI-2 that was flying from the opposite. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 16,5 km west of Barzas. Debris were found on a greater distance than 600 meters and all 27 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot of the LI-2 registered CCCP-L4534 deliberately decided to modify his flight path and flight level without prior permission from ATC. Doing so, he flew into the flight path of the second aircraft that was flying to a heading of 90°. It was reported that the pilot at fault had been degraded to the co-pilot position in July 1952 due to lack of discipline and loss of direction. He had returned to his captain position last February despite serious shortcomings in piloting techniques. The low position of the sun was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T near Barzas: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A4031
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Kemerovo
MSN:
184 326 05
YOM:
30
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1268
Circumstances:
A first Lisunov LI-2 left Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1755LT bound for Novosibirsk with an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. At 1840LT, a second Lisunov LI-2T registered CCCP-A4031 left Novosibirsk Airport bound for Kemerovo with a crew of seven who were involved in an aerial photography mission. While approaching Kemerovo, the captain of the first LI-2 modified his route and flight level without prior permission and passed north of Kemerovo. In excellent weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters to a heading of 270° and facing the sun, the first LI-2 was hit on its right wing and right engine by the second LI-2 that was flying from the opposite. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 16,5 km west of Barzas. Debris were found on a greater distance than 600 meters and all 27 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot of the LI-2 registered CCCP-L4534 deliberately decided to modify his flight path and flight level without prior permission from ATC. Doing so, he flew into the flight path of the second aircraft that was flying to a heading of 90°. It was reported that the pilot at fault had been degraded to the co-pilot position in July 1952 due to lack of discipline and loss of direction. He had returned to his captain position last February despite serious shortcomings in piloting techniques. The low position of the sun was considered as a contributory factor.

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

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1953 at 2137 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1777
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Kazan
MSN:
9 301 31 14
YOM:
24
Flight number:
SU035
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Vnukovo at 1911LT and continued under VFR at an altitude of 1,200 meters until Kazan. The crew obtained the permission to descent to Kazan and reduced his altitude to 600 and then 300 meters. During 3 to 4 minutes, the aircraft was flying along the Volga River at an altitude of 300 meters when the crew heard a noise and both engines lost power simultaneously. In the mean time, fire erupted from the exhaust pipe and the crew elected to activate the fire extinguisher system on both engines but without success. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing on the Volga River. The airplane crash landed on the water and eventually came to rest near the bank. 22 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin while a passenger died from drowning. The aircraft sank to a depth of 18 meters.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft collided, at an altitude of 300 meters, with several ducks. A duck hit the left engine while a second hit the top part of the cockpit, just above the windshield. The impact damaged the upper side of the flight deck and a short-circuit occurred on the magneto switch, causing both engines to stop. The crew elected to feather both propellers but this was not possible because the generator did not provide sufficient power at that time.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Kazan: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1953 at 2037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1435
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Kazan – Moscow
MSN:
30267
YOM:
31
Flight number:
SU022
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
1288
Circumstances:
The crew was completing the cargo flight SU022 from Novosibirsk to Moscow with an intermediate stop in Kazan, carrying a crew of six and a load of wire coils, electric engines and radio components. Shortly after takeoff from Kazan Airport, while climbing to a height of 150 meters, the aircraft was hit on its empannage by the left engine of an Aeroflot Lisunov LI-2 that was trying to land at Kazan Airport. On a cargo flight from Leningrad to Sverdlovsk with intermediate stops in Moscow-Bykovo Airport and Kazan, the Lisunov LI-2 was registered CCCP-L4582 and was was carrying a crew of five and a load of six brass panels weighing 155 kilos each and a batch of capacitors. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a snow covered field located three km southwest of the airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all eleven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of a series of omissions on part of the ATC based at Kazan Airport who failed to coordinate properly the radar coverage and failed to assist the crew adequately. The ATC in charge of the approach instructed the crew of the Lisunov to descend to 300 meters instead of the 900 meters as mentioned in the approach procedures. Due to poor weather conditions that reduced the visibility below minimas, it would be more appropriate that ATC postponed the departure of the Ilyushin II-12 or instructed the crew of the Lisunov LI-2 to follow a holding circuit or to divert to another airport. It was confirmed that both flying crew did not bear any responsibilities in this tragedy.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Kazan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1953 at 2037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4582
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad – Moscow – Kazan – Sverdlovsk
MSN:
184 304 04
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
3705
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Leningrad to Sverdlovsk with intermediate stops in Moscow-Bykovo Airport and Kazan, with a load of six brass panels weighing 155 kilos each and a batch of capacitors. The descent to Kazan was started by night and poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls, reducing the visibility down to zero. The crew obtained the permission to descent to 1,800, 1,200 and 600 meters and was unable to locate the runway. Guided by ATC, the aircraft descended to the altitude of 150 meters when the aircraft hit with its left engine the empennage of an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12. Registered CCCP-L1435, this second aircraft was performing the cargo flight number SU022 from Novosibirsk to Moscow with an intermediate stop in Kazan, carrying a crew of six and a load of wire coils, electric engines and radio components. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a snow covered field located three km southwest of the airport. Both aircraft were destroyed and all eleven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of a series of omissions on part of the ATC based at Kazan Airport who failed to coordinate properly the radar coverage and failed to assist the crew adequately. The ATC in charge of the approach instructed the crew of the Lisunov to descend to 300 meters instead of the 900 meters as mentioned in the approach procedures. Due to poor weather conditions that reduced the visibility below minimas, it would be more appropriate that ATC postponed the departure of the Ilyushin II-12 or instructed the crew of the Lisunov LI-2 to follow a holding circuit or to divert to another airport. It was confirmed that both flying crew did not bear any responsibilities in this tragedy.