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Crash of a Putilov Stal-2 in Zalivnaya: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1934 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1127
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Penza – Samara – Orenburg – Tashkent
MSN:
127
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
12
Aircraft flight cycles:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow on February 19 to be delivered to its new base in Tashkent. Intermediate stops were scheduled in Penza, Samara and Orenburg. On the leg from Samara to Orenburg, after a trip of about 205 km, the crew encountered engine problems and made an emergency landing. Due to technical problems, poor weather conditions and awaiting fuel from Orenburg, the crew was stuck for 18 days. Following several engine tests and after all defaults were eliminated, the crew took off on March 11 back to Samara. While flying at a height of 250-300 metres, the engine failed again. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 3 km from the Zalivnaya Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control consecutive to a stall during a turn completed at low altitude following an engine failure in a difficult environment.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Balashov

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1933 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh629
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
5409
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
224
Aircraft flight cycles:
1228
Circumstances:
The crew (one cadet and one instructor) departed Balashov Airport at 1240LT on a local training mission. After takeoff, the crew completed two turns then climbed to the altitude of 350 metres and eventually entered clouds. About five minutes after its departure, the aircraft started to descend and reached the speed of 160 km/h. The instructor attempted to regain control but the airplane impacted ground and crashed, coming to rest upside down 4 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilots lost visual contact with the ground after entering the clouds;
- The crew made a decision to reduce altitude and attempt to establish visual contact with the ground rather than continuing under Instrument Flight Rules;
- The crew failed to follow instructions not entering the clouds;
- The crew confusion;
- Insufficient crew training in blind conditions.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Bataysk: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1933 at 1038 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L406
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bataysk - Bataysk
MSN:
165
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
386
Circumstances:
The crew departed Bataysk Airfield on a local training mission. After takeoff, the crew encountered engine problems and the airplane climbed to a max height of about 70 metres before it started to descend. The pilot-in-command attempted to find a suitable terrain for an emergency landing when the aircraft nosed down and crashed, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an engine failure, the cause of which could not be precisely determined due to the total destruction of the plane. However, it is believed that it may be caused by a faulty carburation. The loss of control at low height was the result of a pilot error who did not take the necessary measures to ensure that the aircraft's speed was sufficient while he was confused about the choice of a landing zone in an unfavorable environment. Finally, the horizontal stabilizer was stuck at an inappropriate angle, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Moscow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1933 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L538
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
25
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
203
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow Airport at 0900LT on a cargo flight, carrying two crew members and a load of 212 kilos of various goods. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of about 200-300 metres, the crew encountered vibrations and stability problems. The pilot decided to return to Moscow and initiated a descent. On approach, at a height of 150 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. The mechanic was seriously injured and the pilot was killed. Less than an hour later, the mechanic died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the tail detached in flight following vibrations of unknown origin. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Tupolev R-6 Limuzin in Poldasnia: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1933 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-J5
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Feodosia
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Moscow to Feodosia, Crimea, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. As the visibility was too low, the pilot reduced his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane impacted a tree and crashed. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Kazan

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1933 at 1821 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L150
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kazan - Kazan
MSN:
151
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Kazan on a local test flight, carrying nine passengers and two crew members, one pilot and one mechanic. After a local flight of about 13 minutes, the crew decided to return to the airport. On short final, at a height of about 30-35 metres, the airplane collided with a Polikarpov U-2 registered CCCP-S227. Operated by Osoaviakhima (Kazan Aero Club), the airplane was completing a local flight with two pilots on board. It appears that on final, the Polikarpov was flying above the ANT-9 and cut his track before the collision occurred. The Polikarpov dove into the ground and was destroyed. Both pilots were seriously injured and died two hours later. The Tupolev continued for few seconds before it crashed near the runway, coming to rest broken in two. All 11 occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a poor organization between the crew and the Kazan Airport Authorities as no proper procedures were in place at the time of the accident for such test flight. The pilot of the Polikarpov failed to bring attention to potential traffic and did not realize the presence of the second aircraft. On his side, the pilot of the ANT-9 was unable to see the Polikarpov flying above him due to the upper wings position.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh480
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
2773
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
348
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. On approach, at an altitude of about 250 metres, it collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh90, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board and just took off. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.
Probable cause:
The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh90
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
3853
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
49
Aircraft flight cycles:
118
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. After takeoff, the pilot made a left turn then climbed to the altitude of about 250 metres when the aircraft collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh480, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.
Probable cause:
The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

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

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1933 at 0610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh566
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Michurinsk - Michurinsk
MSN:
3050
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
485
Aircraft flight cycles:
2572
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Michurinsk Airport on a local solo training flight. While flying at an altitude of about 700-750 metres, he initiated manoeuvres when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered a loss of orientation (spatial disorientation) due to his inexperience.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Kontuganovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1933 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L463
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Yanaul – Kazan
MSN:
267
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
232
Aircraft flight cycles:
58
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Sverdlovsk Airport at 1440LT on a flight to Kazan with an intermediate stop in Yanaul, carrying two passengers and two crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 800 metres, weather conditions worsened with snow showers. The captain reduced his altitude to 300 metres when he encountered blizzard conditions. He eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing near the village of Kontuganovo. While circling at a height of about 50 metres, the left wing impacted a tall tree and the airplane crashed. All four occupants were injured, two seriously. Few hours later, the captain died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the weather bulletin transmitted to the crew prior to departure was not relevant and was reporting local rain showers only. The pilot attempted an emergency in a hilly terrain in very limited visibility.