Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Moscow central airport on a special flight to Cherepovets and Tikhvin, carrying 13 mechanics and four crew members. The purpose of the mission was to ferry mechanics to these two airports to proceed with repairs and maintenance on several grounded airplanes. On the leg from Cherepovets to Tikhvin, the airplane was shot down by the pilot of a JU.88. The pilot of the PS-84 attempted to divert to Podborovye Airfield for an emergency landing but on short final, the airplane went out of control and crashed 300 metres from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while 16 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Vaziani: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L157

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Vaziani - Vaziani

MSN:

158

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5138

Circumstances:

At 0800LT, the crew departed Tbilisi Airport on a short flight to the nearest airport of Vaziani where seven skydivers were picked up for a local exercise. During the takeoff roll at Vaziani Airport, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot aborted. A second attempt to takeoff was also abandoned few minutes later for the same reasons. As the crew thought that the mudguard was rubbing the left wheel, they proceeded with a slight modification of the position of the mudguard. On the third attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off then climbed to a height of 2-3 metres when it turned 90° to the left, causing the left wheel to touch the ground. The airplane rolled on a distance of 88 metres then the right wheel struck the ground as well. The airplane continued on a distance of nine metres then crashed. The airplane was totally destroyed and two paratroopers were killed. The other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control after takeoff was the consequence of the failure of the right rudder control cable.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The person in charge of the maintenance of the airplane was asked on October 20 to proceed with the change of both rudder control cables. The mechanic failed to comply with this order, did not proceed with any change and reported to his superiors that he changed the cables, which was not the case,
- The superior failed to check the work from his mechanic prior to release the airplane,
- The crew failed to inspect the airplane prior to takeoff and did not comply with published procedures,
- The pilot continued the takeoff procedure with an apparently defective airplane and failed to reduce the engine power when the airplane turned left after liftoff.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 in Chernokorova: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3751

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Tyumen - Sverdlovsk

MSN:

22172

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

618

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Tyumen Airport at 0805LT on a special flight to Sverdlovsk, carrying three crew members and seven passengers on their way to a political party committee meeting. A little more than an hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 100 metres in good weather conditions, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that rolled to the left then entered a dive and crashed 1,5 km from the village of Chernokorova, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight following the failure of the left engine for undetermined reasons.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot took the decision to continue the flight at an unsafe altitude of 100 metres above ground,
- The crew failed to proceed with a pre takeoff check of the airplane,
- No technical check of the airplane was made since last October 4,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 160 kg above MTOW.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Kazan

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1495

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

22 566

YOM:

1937

Location:

Kazan

Republic of Tatarstan

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Kazan Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The pilot continued the approach and descended too low, causing the airplane to struck the ground and to crash 6 km short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The decision of the pilot to continue the approach in poor visibility and his failure to return to his departure point or to divert to a suitable airport.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Ermakovskoye: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1941 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-P245

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ermakovskoye – Abakan

MSN:

0238

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

710

Circumstances:

In the early morning, the crew completed a training flight from Abakan to Ermakovskoye with an intermediate stop in Kuragino. The airplane landed at 1000LT at Ermakovskoye Airfield then departed on a back trip to Abakan. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to a height of 10 metres then made a 180 turn bound to Abakan. While flying at low height some two km from the airfield, the airplane collided with a tall pine, lost height and crashed 150 metres further. The pilot was injured and the cadet was killed.

Probable cause:

Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who continued the flight at an unsafe altitude to clear the local obstacles.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Russia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A1022

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

12205

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane failed to return from a reconnaissance mission on the western front.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Ladoga

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3957

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

184 17 10

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Ladoga. All four occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Chernoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3419

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

6 5 01

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a swampy area in Chernoye. Both passengers were killed and all five crew members were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.