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

Date & Time: Jul 15, 2022 at 2127 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-02240
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prochookopskaya - Prochookopskaya
MSN:
1G235-11
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6647
Captain / Total hours on type:
6647.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4871
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a local flight in Prochookopskaya. While attempting to land at night, the airplane collided with the cables of a power line and crashed in a wooded area, coming to rest upside down. The wreckage was found some 10 km north of the Armavir Airport. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft collided with the wires of an overhead power line, which had no night markings, with subsequent collision with trees and ground.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Inadequate experience of the pilot in night flying conditions,
- Violation of the AN-2 flight manual, which prescribes instruments night flights,
- Decision to fly at night to a landing site without adequate light equipment,
- Flying at an altitude lower than the prescribed altitude of unlit obstacles, of which the pilot was aware,
- Decision of the pilot to perform the flight in a reduced crew configuration (without a copilot).
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD at Dyagilevo AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 2022 at 0305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF-78778
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dyagilevo AFB - Belgorod
MSN:
00834 89659
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Dyagilevo AFB (Ryazan) on a night flight apparently to Belgorod, carrying nine crew members. After takeoff, the engine n°4 caught fire. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing but the aircraft went out of control and crashed about one km from the airbase, bursting into flames. Four crew members were seriously injured and five others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Crash of an Antonov AN-30M near Olenyok

Date & Time: Jun 22, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-30001
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Olenek
MSN:
14 02
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
9424
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Yakutsk Airport on a cargo flight to Olenyok, carrying seven crew members and a load of 6,3 tons of food. En route, the airplane suffered a double engine failure. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a wooded area located 70 km from Olenyok and came to rest. All seven crew members evacuated the cabin, among them three were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the double engine failure is the consequence of a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Sebyan-Kyuyol: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 2022 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-17742
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Us-Khatyn – Vertikal’nyy
MSN:
1G203-03
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10700
Captain / Total hours on type:
10700.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1965
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1600
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Us-Khatyn on a cargo flight to Vertikal'nyy, carrying one passenger and two pilots. En route, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was reduced due to fog. The airplane impacted tree tops and crashed on the slope of a wooded terrain located about 46 km southeast of the village of Sebyan-Kyuyol. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination (the flight was supposed to be 2 hours and 30 minutes), SAR operations were initiated. The wreckage was found 10 days later, on July 1st, in an uninhabited area. Both pilots were killed and the passenger was found alive after he found refuge in a fishing house where he could find food.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued to fly under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Unreasonable flight decision taken by the flight crew,
- The forecasted weather on the declared route did not ensure compliance with ATC,
- Failure of the pilot-in-command to take timely measures to return to the departure airfield or to take other actions to change the flight plan.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Sanosware: 22 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 2022 at 1010 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AET
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pokhara – Jomsom
MSN:
619
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
TRA197
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Captain / Total flying hours:
17500
Captain / Total hours on type:
13500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
520
Copilot / Total hours on type:
315
Aircraft flight hours:
41336
Aircraft flight cycles:
71338
Circumstances:
On 29 May 2022, Tara Air’s 9N-AET, Twin Otter (DHC-6/300) aircraft was scheduled for three flights on Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara sector. Tara Air had also filed flight plans for two additional Charter flights on the same sector. Among those five flights, four flights were to be conducted by a set of crews already positioned at Pokhara while the last flight was scheduled to be commanded by the PIC who had reached Pokhara from Kathmandu that very morning. Since Jomsom Airport was closed for operations due to bad weather, the PIC went to Tara Air crew camp and waited for the updates of weather improvement of Jomsom. After Jomsom Airport was open for operations at 0321 UTC, Tara Air operation decided to operate the first scheduled flight. However suspecting the next flight operation to Jomsom could not be operated, the original PIC assigned to the flight seated on board as a passenger to Jomsom for his scheduled business trip and the PIC assigned for the last flight took command. The Flight Plan was amended accordingly. At 0342 UTC, Summit Air’s 9N-AKZ, LET-410 took-off from Pokhara to Jomsom. At 0405 UTC, it reported an altitude of 12,500 ft and patches of cloud over Tatopani. At 0409 UTC, Summit Air’s second aircraft 9N-AMG, LET-410, took-off for Jomsom and subsequently, at 0410 UTC, 9N-AET of Tara Air (TRA197) took-off with 19 passengers and three crews on board. The Copilot had initially reported 3 crew and 18 passengers onboard to Pokhara Tower but later, revised the passenger figure was 19 prior to takeoff. 9N-AET was supposed to take-off before SMT 601 but the PIC seemed hesitant to commence the flight due to weather PIREP from 9N-AKZ that, the en-route weather was not favorable for VFR flights and critical around LETE and TATOPANI. All the crew members of TRA 197 and SMT 601 were in their respective cockpits and communicating with the preceding flight 9N-AKZ as well as with Pokhara tower for the updated information of en-route and destination weather. No flights had been conducted since morning and most of the passengers of Tara air and Summit Air were already at airport. In this situation it can be assumed that there was pressure to conduct flight from each angle. While listening to the CVR of TRA 197, it was observed that someone, either ground staff or some intimate passenger to the crew, advising strongly to the PIC to conduct the flight. Following the PIREP from 9NAKZ, both TRA197 and SMT 601 subsequently started their engines to commence the flights. The PIC of TRA 197 was still hesitant to conduct the flight for Jomsom even after the engine start and delayed the taxi as he was not yet convinced about the weather report received from preceding 9N-AKZ aircraft. In the meantime, SMT 601 lined up for departure to Jomsom. That was one of the most important pressure points to the PIC of TRA 197 to initiate departure. TRA 197 finally lined up and took off from Pokhara at 0410 UTC following the SMT 601 based on the en-route weather information (VMC) from 9N-AKZ, through Pokhara Tower. The en-route weather provided by Summit Air’s 9N-AKZ to Pokhara Tower and the crewmembers of TRA 197 and SMT 601 was not the same. Aircraft took off from Pokhara from runway 04 heading North. Tower instructed “report 5 DME northwest RW 04”. Then after departure at 90 climb power aircraft turned left to maintain a heading of 345 and planned to join heading 305 degree towards Ghodepani. After four minutes, TRA 197 reported, “Now on course…. 6000 climbing and ETA Jomsom 32” (0432 UTC). At 04:21 TRA 197 reported to Pokhara Tower as position approaching Ghodepani 12000 climbing for 12500. After 6 Seconds ATC Pokhara asked TRA 197, “confirm would like to change level and TRA 197 replied, “No Ma'am we have crossed Ghodepani and like to be on”. Pokhara Tower instructed, “Tara 197 contact Jomsom Tower 122.5” CVR recordings show that after TRA 197 crossed Ghodepani, the PIC was not comfortable with the en-route weather. However, the flight was continued following the advice of SMT 601. At 0426 UTC, TRA 197made the first contact with Jomsom AFS and reported its position to which Jomsom Tower conveyed the prevailing weather as “Wind South Westerly up to 30 kts, QNH 1019, Temp 18º”. The PIC of TRA 197 reconfirmed twice if the wind was maximum, up to 30 Kts and currently South Westerly-25kts. The crew was discussing about the bad weather being encountered and the PIC himself voiced his dissatisfaction about the behavior of other pilots who conduct VFR flights in such unfavorable weather. The CVR recordings reveal that the aircraft was encountering clouds and the PIC was trying his best to remain clear of the clouds. During the course of flight, TRA 197 hadn’t reported any abnormalities encountered and neither any technical defect on aircraft either to Jomsom tower or Pokhara Tower. As per CVR, PIC was searching for light and brighter areas and adamantly heading towards it. As per CVR and V2 tracker data, the aircraft was maintaining 12000 ft and was in a climbing attitude. During the continuous attempts of crew to avoid the clouds with Terrain Avoidance and Warning System [TAWS] inhibited, the aircraft met with an unfortunate CFIT accident into the rocky terrain at an altitude of 4050 meter AMSL at Sanusare Mountain, Thasang Rural Municipality, Mustang. As per V2 tracker, last position of 9N-AET was 7.7 nm SW of Jomsom Airport. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact and there were no survivors.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was the flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain the proper course while inadvertently flying in IMC conditions with the aircraft Terrain Avoidance and Warning System (TAWS) inhibited which resulted into a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accident.
The following contributing factors were identified:
1. The flight crew's failure to follow the SOP of company.
2. The aircraft flight operation with TAWS inhibited during deteriorating en-route weather condition.
3. Loss of situational awareness of crew.
4. Deteriorating en route weather.
5. Less experienced copilot for that sector and high crew gradient.
6. Poor CRM during the flight.
7. The whole cockpit duties [both PF and PM] were undertaken by the PlC, which likely impaired his performance.
8. Underutilization of the available Navigation instruments.
Final Report:

Crash of an Airbus A319-115 in Chongqing

Date & Time: May 12, 2022 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-6425
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chongqing – Nyingchi
MSN:
5157
YOM:
2012
Flight number:
TV9833
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
113
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
28364
Aircraft flight cycles:
14495
Circumstances:
The airplane was departing Chongqing-Jiangbei Airport on a regular schedule service to Nyingchi, Tibet, carrying 113 passengers and a crew of nine. During the takeoff roll on runway 03, at a speed of 145 knots (just below V1 speed), the captain encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. He initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre when the airplane started to deviate to the left. It veered off runway and went through a grassy area. While contacting the parallel concrete taxiway, the nose gear was sheared off. The airplane continued for 120 metres when it impacted a drainage ditch, causing both main landing gears and both engines to be sheared off as well. The airplane later came into a stop, bursting into flames. 36 occupants were injured while all others evacuated safely. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that, during the takeoff run, the captain was distracted by items falling, and momentarily lost the monitoring of the aircraft's flight sequence. During this short period of time, he unconsciously held the left rudder, which resulted in an unintended deviation of the aircraft to the left direction. After he noticed the deviation, the crew failed to execute the standard callouts, and the captain reduced the throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff. Due to the combined effects of maximum braking force and inertia, the crew was unable to maintain a safe control, causing the airplane to veer off the runway to the left at a speed of approximately 127 knots. Poor decision makings on part of the crew was considered as the main cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-89P near Wuzhou: 132 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 2022 at 1422 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-1791
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming - Guangzhou
MSN:
41474/5433
YOM:
2015
Flight number:
MU5735
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
123
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
132
Captain / Total flying hours:
6709
Copilot / Total flying hours:
31769
Aircraft flight hours:
18239
Aircraft flight cycles:
8986
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kunming-Wujiaba Airport at 1315LT on a schedule service (flight MU5735) to Guangzhou, carrying 123 passengers and a crew of nine. At 1420LT, while cruising at an altitude of 29,100 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent until 7,400 feet then climbed to 8,600 feet. It finally entered a steep descent and crashed almost two minutes later in a vertical attitude on hilly and wooded terrain located some 20 km southwest of Wuzhou. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 132 occupants were killed. Two days after the accident, the CVR was found while the DFDR was found on March 27.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ostrogozhsk

Date & Time: Feb 24, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF-36074
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
75 10
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a snow covered field located in Ostrogozhsk. Russian Authorities reported that all occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Aralsk

Date & Time: Feb 23, 2022 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kyzylorda - Aralsk
Flight number:
TJA5217
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Kyzylorda on an ambulance flight to Aralsk, carrying one doctor and two pilots. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and apparently attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a desert area, coming to rest upside down and bursting into flames. All three occupants evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. Registration UP-A0279?

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

Date & Time: Feb 11, 2022 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-33599
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Koryaki - Tymlat
MSN:
1G230-41
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
17136
Captain / Total hours on type:
2388.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
376
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
3712
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Koryaki on a cargo flight to Tymlat, carrying two pilots and a load of potatoes and roof tiles. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane reached a critical angle of attack then entered a stall and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found about one km from the village. The airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident probably occurred as a result of its entry into subcritical angles of attack and stall mode after a takeoff with the maximum permissible weight and reduced power of the propulsion system. Most likely, the reduced power was due to the installation of a magneto switch prior to the PM-1 magneto switch to position “1” instead of position “1+2” as required in the flight manual.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Long flight interruptions of both crew members before the emergency flight,
- Deficiencies in the training and interaction of crew members,
- Insufficient level of flight training, which resulted in a loss of control of the flight speed.
Final Report: