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Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Vinnitsa: 48 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1971 at 1125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46809
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kiev - Vinnitsa
MSN:
67302306
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
N-63
Location:
Vinnitsa
Vinnytsia Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
48
Aircraft flight hours:
11329
Aircraft flight cycles:
10658
Circumstances:
On approach to Vinnitsa Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low clouds and freezing rain. Due to poor visibility, the captain decided to abandon the approach and made a go-around. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land in similar conditions, the captain decided to make a second go-around and requested full power. At this time, the airplane banked left to an angle of 20-40° then stalled and crashed in flames 850 meters short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 48 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The loss of control on short final was caused by an aerodynamic stalled for a reason which could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that a delay of 3 to 5 second elapsed from the decision to make a go-around and the selection of the speed levers in a forward position which could contribute to the stall.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Dniepropetrovsk

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70908
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1 93 473 03
YOM:
1958
Location:
Dnipropetrovsk
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Control was lost in flight and the aircraft crashed in a field. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the failure of a slat control cable in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-10A in Chișinău

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11137
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
8 4 004 01
YOM:
1958
Location:
Chișinău
Chișinău City District
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Chișinău Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Tyubelyakh: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1971 at 1316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-47678
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Moma - Ust-Nera
MSN:
1159 473 12
YOM:
1961
Location:
Tyubelyakh
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
8979
Circumstances:
The crew encountered low clouds and poor weather conditions while following the valley of the river Tikhon-Yuryakh. The decision to return was taken too late so the aircraft was unable to clear the obstacles. It struck tree tops and crashed at a height of 1,080 meters into a mountain slope located near the Moma Pass (1,444 meters high) and 19 km northeast of Chumpu-Kytyl (Tyubelyakh). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire. A pilot and a passenger were injured while the second pilot and five passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of:
- Wrong decisions taken by the crew,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Insufficient or erroneous information about enroute weather conditions.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Moscow: 25 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1971 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42490
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Simferopol
MSN:
0 2 16 03
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU773
Location:
Moscow-Vnukovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height, banked right 90° then struck power cables and crashed in a field located 10 km south of the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that an explosive device composed by 400 to 800 grams of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploded approximately 7 to 15 seconds after rotation. The bomb was apparently placed in a hand baggage placed on the cabin floor, maybe under the seat number 45. The detonation ruptured the cabin floor, the left root and the control cables were cut and inoperative. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and lost several pieces at an altitude of 200 meters before striking the ground. Despite extensive investigations that will end in 1973, the Soviet authorities wont be able to identify the author of this act of sabotage.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Toko

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98281
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1101 473 07
YOM:
1958
Location:
Toko
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
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 and the aircraft crash landed near Tokko. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Polotsk: 14 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1971 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-96221
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Polotsk – Chelyabinsk
MSN:
1G72-05
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
SU697
Location:
Polotsk
Chelyabinsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Aircraft flight hours:
6056
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Polotsk Airport at 1623LT on a flight to Chelyabinsk, carrying 12 passengers (mining workers) and a crew of two. 12 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 300 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a steppe located 35 km north of Polotsk. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that none of the 12 passengers were attached and some of them were standing in the rear compartment of the aircraft, prohibited to passengers, the access door to be locked. Various analysis revealed that all passengers were intoxicated at the time of the accident and that they were probably moving in the cabin without the consent of the crew. This situation likely modified the CofG, causing the airplane to become uncontrollable.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Ekimchan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1971 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32318
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Zlatoustovsk – Ekimchan
MSN:
1G97-30
YOM:
1968
Location:
Ekimchan
Amur oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
3218
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Zlatoustovsk Airfield at 1840LT on its last leg back to Ekimchan, carrying three passengers and a crew of two. Ten minutes later, weather conditions worsened and while cruising at an altitude of 1,434 meters in cloud, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 22 km east of Ekimchan. The wreckage was found two days later, 94 meters below the summit and 10 km off course. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was the crew continued the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions and failed to see the mountain while flying in clouds. Analysis revealed that the aircraft was off course by 10 kilometers at the time of the accident and that both pilots were intoxicated with an alcohol blood level of 2 ‰ for the captain and 1.34 ‰ for the copilot.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Calcutta

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1971 at 1458 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-12993
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Raipur – Calcutta
MSN:
00 347 307
YOM:
1970
Location:
Calcutta-Dum Dum
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Calcutta-Dum Dum on a ferry flight from Raipur. En route, he was informed that weather conditions worsened in Calcutta with a visibility limited to 2 km. While descending to an altitude of 1,830 meters, the wind component changed and the crew was vectored for an approach to runway 01R which was not equipped with an ILS system. On final approach, while at a distance of 4 km from the airfield, the airplane went through a low pressure area with heavy rain falls. At a distance of 900 meters from the runway threshold, at an altitude of 40/50 meters, the visibility dropped to zero due to torrential rains. ATC informed the crew about the minimums and the navigator advised the captain to initiate a go-around manoeuvre. But the captain continued the descent and passed below the glide until the aircraft struck the ground 198 meters short of runway threshold and 20 meters to the left of the centerline. It slid for several yards and came to rest in a swampy area. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The airplane entered an area of heavy rains falls, reducing the visibility to zero. In a very short time, the crew lost visual contact with the runway and all visual references with the ground as well, causing the aircraft to pass below the glide and to struck the ground. For unknown reason, the captain failed to initiate a go-around manoeuvre and ignored the different warnings from ATC and his crew. The fact that the crew was not aware about the non precision approach procedures for runway 01R remained a contributing factor.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Lipetsk

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1971 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87719
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9 94 04 08
YOM:
1969
Location:
Lipetsk
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed at an excessive speed, bounced and went out of control. It veered off runway, hit obstacles and came to rest. While all occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration.
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