Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A1289

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Chernyshkovsky - Chernyshkovsky

MSN:

16618

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a spraying mission on mustard plantation in the region of Chernyshkovsky. After the lunch brake, the pilot decided to make low passes over the village and to show to local people the airplane's capabilities. At a height of 10-12 metres, he initiated hazardous manoeuvres when he lost control of the airplane that crashed on the ground, bursting into flames. The mechanic was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot was intoxicated after drinking vodka during the lunch. He also decided to initiate a flight without prior permission.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Novoe Selo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1940 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3523

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Rostov-on-Don – Sochi – Sukhumi – Kutaisi – Tbilisi

MSN:

16/214

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Rostov Airport at 1500LT on a mail flight to Tbilisi with intermediate stops in Sochi, Sukhumi and Kutaisi. About 50 minutes into the flight, while cruising in stormy weather, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field at a speed of 600-700 km/h. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 near Voronezh: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1755 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T3518

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stalingrad – Moscou

MSN:

11/214

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Aircraft flight hours:

168

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Stalingrad at 1647LT on a mail flight to Moscow, carrying three crew members and a load of 113 kg of mail. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and continued his course to the northwest. After flying a distance of about 350 km, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 metres in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field at a speed of 750-800 km/h. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Due to the high degree of destruction, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the loss of control was probably the consequence of icing while cruising at high altitude in clouds, causing a malfunction of the instruments.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Sinegubovo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1940 at 0708 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3529

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow – Kharkiv – Mineralnye Vody

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Moscow at 0605LT on a cargo flight to Mineralnye Vody with an intermediate stop in Kharkiv, carrying three crew members. The pilot continued at an altitude of 300 metres and at a speed of 290 km/h when weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds and rain falls. Without any radio contact with the ground to obtain a weather briefing, the crew continued to the south and passed over Tula at 0653LT. Shortly later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and was unable to locate his position so the captain decided to return. Flying to low in fog, the airplane impacted trees at a speed of 220 km/h and crashed into a ravine. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the decision of the pilot to continue in poor visibility. His decision to return was taken too late and he was flying at an unsafe altitude. At the time of the accident, one of the engine was not functioning for reason that could not be determined, the propeller was windmilling at impact. Nevertheless, this was not considered was a contributing factor.

Crash of Polikarpov SP in Dolgii Buerak: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1939 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-K200

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ganyushkino – Vladimirovka – Saratov

MSN:

2533

YOM:

1931

Location:

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Aircraft flight hours:

733

Circumstances:

On December 1st, the airplane departed Saratov with the same crew to deliver mouse for a laboratory based in Ganyushkino, south Kazakhstan. The next day, the pilot departed Ganyushkino at 0830LT on the return trip to Saratov with an intermediate stop in Vladimirovka. Approaching Saratov, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog and passed over the airfield without any visual contact with the ground. He then returned to the north when he encountered snow falls. The airplane entered a right turn the lost height and crashed in a pasture located 1,5 km west of the village of Dolgii Buerak, about 7,5 km north-east of Saratov Airport. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the followings:
- The pilot decided to perform the flight despite he was informed prior to departure about the poor weather conditions at destination;
- The pilot continues the approach to Saratov Airport in below-minima weather conditions;
- Poor flight preparation;
- Lack of discipline on part of the pilot.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Zhdanovsky: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1939 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-A1072

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Zhdanovsky - Zhdanovsky

MSN:

14245

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Region:

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Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a crop spraying mission on cotton field in the area of Zhdanovsky. In unknown circumstances, he lost control of the airplane that nosed down and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot was inexperienced, was not familiar with the area and was completing the mission in a solo configuration, in violation of the published procedures.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-40 near Birakan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Evreyskaya oblast (Jewish Autonomous oblast)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2460

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

18/J

YOM:

1938

Location:

Birakan

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 metres, the airplane entered an area of cumulonimbus. Due to severe atmospheric turbulences, the airplane became uncontrollable and started to lose altitude. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in the taiga near Birakan. The pilot was found alive but both other crew members were killed as they did not bail out.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Leninabad: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov PR-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2162

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stalinabad – Leninabad

MSN:

106

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Circumstances:

At 0700LT, the pilot was cleared for takeoff from Stalinabad on a mail flight to Leninabad despite weather conditions at destination were poor due to thunderstorm activity. On approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field and was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot was inexperienced and this was his first solo flight. Failure of the Authority at Stalinabad Airport who allowed the pilot to take off despite poor weather conditions at destination and his lack of experience.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Imişli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2221

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: