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Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Basargechar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-M7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yerevan - Basargechar
MSN:
5987
YOM:
1934
Location:
Vardenis
Gegharkunik
Country:
Armenia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
278
Aircraft flight cycles:
289
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Yerevan, the airplane was approaching the destination at an altitude of 1,000 metres when the pilot initiated a straight-in approach, which is against the published procedures that request a circuit vertical to the airfield. Doing so, the pilot deviated from the approach path. Once at a height of 50 metres, he attempted to go around when the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed one km from the airport. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following:
- The pilot failed to follow the approach procedures,
- Engine failure on approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti S.55 in the Olga Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1934 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti S.55
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L997
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Olga Bay - Vladivostok
MSN:
10529
YOM:
1933
Location:
Olga Bay
Primorsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
261
Circumstances:
Following a series of reconnaissance missions over the east part of the Primorsky krai, the crew was preparing to return to Vladivostok. About 20 minutes after takeoff from the Olga Bay, the captain decided to return to refuel. The floatplane landed at a speed of about 140-150 km/h when the right pontoon collided with an obstacle (a tree trunk or the wreck of a wooden fishing boat). This caused the pontoon to be cut for more than one meter. Water entered the cabin then the airplane broke into three pieces and came to rest. The crew of the ship 'Dvinoles' arrived quickly on the scene and was able to evacuated 11 people but two passengers drowned.
Probable cause:
Collision after landing on sea with an undetermined floating object. It was reported that the captain failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to realize that the fuel reserves prior to take off were insufficient to fly back to Vladivostok. This forced him to return to the Olga Bay and to land on an area that was polluted with various floating objects.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.62bis in Irkutsk: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1934 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.62
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-X2
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Bodaibo
MSN:
OE67
YOM:
1932
Location:
Irkutsk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
291
Circumstances:
The floatplane was engaged in a schedule service from Irkutsk to Bodaibo, carrying four passengers and a crew of three. On the Angara River, the captain travelled a distance of about 100 metres then made a 180 turn to start the takeoff procedure. At this time, the distance between the airplane and the first building in the city was about 1300-1400 metres. At a distance of 30-35 metres from the shore, the pilot started the rotation and the airplane took off despite its speed was insufficient. It climbed in a nose up attitude then collided with a two-story house, causing the empennage to be torn off. The airplane stalled and crashed in the Transportnaya street. A passenger was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot decided to takeoff facing the city from a distance that was obviously insufficient. He also initiated the rotation while the aircraft' speed was too low.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Balkhash: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1934 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L130
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Alma-Ata – Karaganda – Taldykorgan – Balkhash
MSN:
131
YOM:
1932
Location:
Balkhash
Karagandy
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
179
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Alma-Ata on a flight to Balkhash with intermediate stops in Karaganda and Taldykorgan. Following a wrong approach configuration to Balkhash Airport, the pilot led the airplane descending with a crosswind component which caused the airplane to land on one landing gear only. The pilot increased engine power and initiated a go-around procedure. During the circuit, the airplane encountered wind up to 47 km/h and due to inappropriate techniques on part of the pilot-in-command, the aircraft descended to a height of 20 metres. While completing a turn, it stalled and crashed 2 km from the runway, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The immediate cause of the accident was a violation by the pilot of the article 175 of the flight manual, making a turn at a too low altitude on final. It was determined that the pilot was inexperienced on this type of aircraft and that he was dispatched in a solo position while he was not certified for. Investigations revealed that the administration released his solo position the day after the accident.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Kuschevka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1934 at 0640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1528
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mineralnye Vody – Armavir – Rostov-on-Don
MSN:
7952
YOM:
1934
Location:
Kushevka
Krasnodar Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
54
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Mineralnye Vody on a mail flight to Rostov with an intermediate stop in Armavir. Following technical problems and due to marginal weather conditions, the pilot was forced to pass the overnight in Armavir. The pilot departed Armavir at 0510LT bound for Rostov. While approaching Kuschevka, he encountered foggy conditions and decided to make a 180 turn. Doing so, and apparently while trying to establish a visual contact with the ground, the airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an impact with the ground following a loss of altitude in reduced visibility due to fog.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot made the decision to continue the flight through fog and did not make the decision early enough to turn back;
- A sudden formation of fog;
- The weather station of Kushevka had issued a timely warning bulletin but this was transferred too late to the airport of Armavir after being blocked for almost two hours at the telegraph office of Rostov.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Optukha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1934 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L787
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv
MSN:
5684
YOM:
1932
Location:
Optukha
Orel oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
313
Aircraft flight cycles:
185
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow at 2255LT on June 5 on a night mail flight to Kharkiv, carrying one pilot and a load of 728 kilos of mail. While cruising at a height of 50 metres over the valley of Oka, weather conditions deteriorated with heavy clouds, drizzle and low ceiling. After completing two turns, the pilot did not realize he lost too much altitude when the airplane impacted ground and crashed in a field located 5 km south of Optukha. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following an error of judgement on part of the pilot regarding the aircraft's altitude during a flight through difficult weather conditions. A poor flight planning was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Karatkansk: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1934 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1075
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Omsk
MSN:
6434
YOM:
1933
Location:
Karatkansk
Novosibirsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
491
Aircraft flight cycles:
152
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Novosibirsk Airport at 1740LT on a mail flight to Omsk. After passing over Tatarsk, weather conditions worsened with low ceiling, heavy rain falls and strong winds up to 57 km/h. After entering clouds, the pilots lost his bearings and elected to return to Tatarsk but the local beacon was unserviceable due to poor weather conditions. The pilot turned several minutes and probably attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted ground and crashed in a field located 5 km south of the Karatkansk Station. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an impact with the ground at high speed while the pilot had lost all bearings in an unfavorable environment.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The person in charge to provide weather bulletin prior to departure from Novosibirsk failed to transmit accurate weather reports to the pilot;
- The person in charge to provide same services en route (at the intermediate weather station) also failed to provide accurate information;
- The pilot took the decision to continue the flight through clouds and below the altitude of 200 metres.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Aktyubinsk

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1934 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1015
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5716
YOM:
1934
Location:
Aktyubinsk
Aktobe
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aktyubinsk Airport on a mail flight, carrying one pilot and 125 kg of mail. Ten minutes after takeoff, the pilot decided to return because he thought there was a loss of hydraulic pressure. Following a wrong approach configuration, he landed with a tailwind component when, upon landing, the airplane crashed and collided with a parked Polikarpov SP registered CCCP-L1018. The pilot escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot adopted wrong piloting techniques,
- Wrong approach calculation and configuration,
- Non compliance with published procedures,
- The pilot landed with a tailwind component,
- The person in charge of the airport failed to change the 'T' according to the wind component.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-2 near Ak-Su: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1934 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Putilov Stal-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1125
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
125
YOM:
1934
Location:
Ak-Su
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Stalinabad with three passengers and two crew members on board. The crew did not receive any weather bulletin prior to departure. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds. While cruising at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the village of Ak-Su. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following the destruction of individual parts of the aircraft due to overload.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Povarovo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1934 at 0446 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscou – Leningrad
MSN:
7322
YOM:
1934
Location:
Povarovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
65
Aircraft flight cycles:
20
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow Airport at 0420LT on a night mail flight to Leningrad. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated with low ceiling and intermittent snow falls. While cruising at a height of 100 metres, the airplane entered a right turn, descended to the ground and crashed 2 km from the Poverovo Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a loss of control in flight followed by a ground impact with an engine running normally at impact.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Poor preparation for a night flight in difficult flying conditions due to low ceiling and snow falls;
- The pilot was unfamiliar with the Moscow - Leningrad route;
- Poor flight planning;
- The airspeed indicator only worked intermittently;
- Weather conditions deteriorated significantly during the flight.
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