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Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Nelkan

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-44958
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1G26-01
YOM:
1963
Location:
Nelkan
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over a mountainous area, the single engine aircraft lost height and crashed in hilly terrain. Occupant's fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Los of control due to atmospheric turbulences and downdrafts.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Maykop

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70076
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G136-02
YOM:
1972
Location:
Maykop
Republic of Adygea
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The fuel tank on which the engine was connected was empty.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Saratov: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1978 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-05706
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balashov - Saratov
MSN:
1G153-19
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU481
Location:
Saratov-Tsentralny
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Aircraft flight hours:
3208
Circumstances:
While descending to Saratov-Tsentralny Airport, the crew contacted ATC and was cleared to continue the approach. In poor visibility due to bad weather (low clouds and rain falls), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 4,5 km west of the airport. Due to poor weather conditions, rescuers arrived on scene at 2200LT in the evening. The copilot and an illegal passenger were seriously injured while 14 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach below weather minima and failed to see and avoid ground obstacles. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wrong decision on part of ATC at Saratov Airport as the crew should be diverted to another airport and not cleared for approach,
- Information transmitted to crew regarding weather conditions and forecast were inaccurate,
- Poor flight operations conception,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Wrong decisions ont part of ATC and pilots,
- Poor weather conditions (limited visibility, low clouds, rain).

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kirensk

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07608
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G156-48
YOM:
1974
Location:
Kirensk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed following an engine failure. Occupant's faite unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B off Emelyanovka: 26 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1978 at 1941 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46327
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Stavropol – Simferopol – Chisinau – Lviv
MSN:
97305504
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SU6515
Location:
Emelyanovka
Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
15851
Aircraft flight cycles:
13457
Circumstances:
En route from Stavropol to Simferopol, while cruising at an altitude of 2,400 meters in icing conditions, the left engine failed, followed 14 seconds later by the failure of the right engine. The crew informed ATC about the situation then lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and eventually crashed in the Sivash gulf, about 24 km southeast of Emelyanovka, Crimea, 10 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact, the wreckage sank and all 26 occupants were killed. Refloat operations were conducted from October 24 till November 18, 1978.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was flying in severe icing conditions since 15 to 20 minutes when both engines stopped quite simultaneously. The flying crew failed to follow the emergency procedures and the decision to activate the engine deicing systems was taken too late, a situation that caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable. Analysis revealed that air intakes, turbine blades and inlet guide vanes were covered by ice. The training program that refers to icing conditions was not satisfactory.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P in Nizhnevartovsk

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02457
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nizhnevartovsk – Strezhevoy
MSN:
1G117-68
YOM:
1970
Location:
Nizhnevartovsk
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nizhnevartovsk Airport, the crew encountered control and stability problems. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in flames in a swampy area near the airfield. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was not properly cleared of snow and ice prior to takeoff.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Lanovtsy: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978 at 1821 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32599
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lanovtsy - Lanovtsy
MSN:
1G105-13
YOM:
1969
Location:
Lanovtsy
Ternopil Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
8666
Aircraft flight cycles:
31855
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission near the village of Lanovtsy and completed several manoeuvre during all day. At the end of the afternoon, he informed ground that the mission was over and while completing a last circuit at low altitude, he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a small hill located 1,5 km southwest of Lanovtsy. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control at low level after the crew was distracted and failed to pay attention while flying at an altitude below that prescribed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Pskhu: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1978 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-40553
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pskhu - Sukhumi
MSN:
1G84-06
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU302G
Location:
Pskhu
Abkhazia
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
8782
Aircraft flight cycles:
11072
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed the grassy runway at Pskhu Airport at 0925LT on a regular schedule service to Sukhumi and the crew was cleared to climb to 2,100 meters. About 15 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,450 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Dzishra (2,623 meters high) located 6 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined by the fact that the aircraft was totally consumed by fire. Nevertheless, a high concentration of carbon monoxide was found in both pilots blood and it is believed it may be the consequence of smoke spreading in the cabin due to a fire in a hand luggage containing films or a possible electrical short-circuit. The assumption that the loss of control was also the consequence of an in-flight collision with a flock of birds that struck the windshield and injured both pilots was not ruled out.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Mary

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1978
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32515
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G103-42
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mary
Mary Province (Mary welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Mary and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties. It appears that the total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sverdlovsk: 38 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1978 at 1952 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87437
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk - Kostanay - Dzhambul
MSN:
9 43 13 35
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SU1080
Location:
Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo
Sverdlovsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Aircraft flight hours:
6291
Aircraft flight cycles:
5110
Circumstances:
Less than a minute after liftoff, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the left engine failed. The captain informed ATC about the situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Unable to gain height, the airplane struck trees at a speed of 210 km/h and crashed in a wooded area located on a hilly terrain about 7,5 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine failed slightly less than a minute after rotation due to icing. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and did not activate the engine deicing systems despite the fact that icing conditions were reported in altitude. During climb, the left engine failed while both engines n°2 and 3 did not provide sufficient power. Also, it was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 419 kg above MTOW while its speed at the time the left engine failed was insufficient, also because the landing gear were not completely raised.
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