Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Moscow at 0815LT on a mail flight to Kharkiv. Approaching Podolsk, weather conditions deteriorated and the captain decided to return to Moscow. But on approach, weather conditions were also poor in Moscow and the visibility was very limited due to fog. On approach, at a height of about 110-120 metres, the airplane collided with an antenna, causing the right wing to be partially torn off. Out of control, the aircraft descended and crashed 65 metres further. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The immediate cause of the accident was the strong deterioration of the weather conditions in Moscow. The aircraft was flying low with stabilizers in a neutral position, confirming it was apparently in a flat attitude. There were no radio in the aircraft and the antenna was not equipped with lights, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Kalinin K-5 in Göyçay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1933 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Kalinin K-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L481

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Baku - Tiflis

MSN:

216

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

183

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Baku on a regular service to Tiflis (Tbilisi), carrying three passengers and two crew members. En route to Ganzhda and Yevlakh, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He reduced his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground and followed the railway line. Approaching Göyçay, at a height below 30 metres, he realized he was facing trees so he initiated a sharp turn to the right when the aircraft impacted poplar trees. The right wing was partially torn off and the aircraft crashed. A female passenger was injured while four other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Overconfidence and lack of discipline on part of the captain who decided to continue the flight at a too low and unsafe altitude in poor visibility due to foggy conditions.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Sverdlovsk

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)

Operator:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.62bis off Kulebyakino: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1932 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.62

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Z1

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Irkutsk - Bodaibo

MSN:

OE72

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Irkutsk on a cargo flight to Bodaibo, carrying four passengers and a crew of three. While cruising some 40 km from Kirensk, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The captain reduced his altitude, apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 20-30 metres, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Lena River near the village of Kulebyakino, some 15 km southwest of Kirensk. Two passengers were injured while five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the pilot was inexperienced on this type of aircraft (this was his third flight on type) and there were four passengers on board while this aircraft was not certified to accept passengers.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Moscow: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1932 at 0950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L128

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Moscow - Moscow

MSN:

129

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

The three engine airplane departed Moscow-Frunze Central Aerodrome in the morning on a local test flight, carrying nine passengers including one child and two crew members, one mechanic and one pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 900 metres, the mechanic informed the pilot about an oil leak below the right engine cowling. The pilot reduced his altitude and decided to divert to the Moscow-Oktyabrskoye Airfield. On final approach, at a height of 125 metres and at a speed of 120 km/h with both central and left engine at full power, the aircraft rolled to the right, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. The pilot and three passengers were killed while seven other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the oil leak on the right engine was the consequence of the failure of an hydraulic pump. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The aircrafts' speed on approach was insufficient, despite both central and left engine were at full power,
- The pilot was panicking,
- Relative strong wind component at the time of the accident,
- The presence of passengers on board during a test flight, when they could be replaced by lest.

Crash of a Junkers G.24 in Nijnetambovskoïe: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1932 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers G.24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L718

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Okha – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur – Nijnetambovskoye – Khabarovsk

MSN:

930

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

411

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Okha on a flight to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops in Nikolayevsk-on-Amur and Nijnetambovskoye. While descending to Nijnetambovskoye, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions. Because the visibility was limited, he reduced his altitude to minimum. On final approach, at a height of 50 metres, the right wing failed and detached. The airplane nosed down and crashed in a pasture. All 16 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right wing on approach because of poor repairs of the four supporting beams.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Incorrect calculation of the dimensions of the shaped couplings and diameter of the rivets,
- Inaccurate record of the repairs in the aircraft logbook,
- Only spars n°2 and 6 were reported in the logbook, not spars n°4 and 8,
- The aircraft was overloaded by 562 kilos upon takeoff from Nikolayevsk-on-Amur as its total weight was 6,862 kg.

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

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1932 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tambov - Tambov

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (one instructor and one cadet) departed Tambov for a local training flight. While flying on its back at an altitude of 800 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the runway. Both occupants were killed.