Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

The four engine aircraft departed Mirny on a positioning flight to Chita with an intermediate stop in Irkutsk, carrying four passengers and a crew of seven on behalf of the Russian Ministry of the Interior. Shortly after takeoff by night, the aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 90° then crashed at a speed of 364 km/h some 1,893 metres past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. The accident occurred 59 seconds after takeoff.

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Krasnoyarsk to Yakutsk with an intermediate stop in Lensk. The intended destination was in fact Prokovsk located about 70 km southwest of Yakutsk but the airfield was not suitable for night movements. On approach to Yakutsk-Magan Airport, the crew continued to Prokovsk where several cars were parked along the runway with their lights ON. Due to low visibility caused by night and snow falls, the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the ground and two approaches were missed. During a third attempt to land, the aircraft collided with pine trees and power cables and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.

The aircraft was engaged in an ambulance flight from Sangar to Segyan-Kyuel and back. Because of poor weather the flight was delayed a couple of hours. At ETD, weather conditions at Sangar Airport was as follows: visibility more than 10 km, scattered clouds at 800 metres, overcast at 3,000 metres, temperature -22° C, dewpoint -23° C, pressure 765 mm Hg. Weather forecast en route included a few stratocumulus clouds between 1,400 and 1,700 metres, significant altostratus clouds between 2,700 and 3,500 metres. The mountainous area over which the Antonov was to fly moderate orographic turbulence was present in the layer from 900 to 1,700 meters, and possible downdrafts on the lee side of ridge in the same altitude range. These conditions were not reported to the crew. Then medical equipment with a weight of 400 kg and passengers arrived at the airport by ambulances. The captain expected seven passengers, but three additional passengers had arrived, without having tickets. The names were added to the passenger list and the copilot arranged the payment of the fare. No seats were available for two passengers, so they had to sit on some hand luggage in the aisle. At 04:46 UTC the aircraft departed from Sangar and climbed towards the mountainous terrain. The highest point along the route was at an elevation of 1,976 metres. The minimum safe altitude was 2,515 metres. The pilot climbed VFR and maintained visual separation from the snow-covered mountains. At an altitude of 1,300 metres the Antonov entered an area with strong turbulence. The aircraft was caught in a downdraft. In an attempt to stop the plane from descending further, power was added to nominal, then to the takeoff power. With rising terrain it was impossible to continue. The pilot decided to carry out a 180° turn to the left over downsloping terrain. This brought the plane downwind with a 30° bank instead of the recommended 20°. As a result, the rate of descent increased and after it rolled to an angle of 120°, the left lower wing contacted a cliff. The aircraft lost speed and crashed on the snow covered mountain. All 12 occupants were rescued, among them four were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

The single engine airplane departed Olenek on a cargo flight to Amakinskaya (Aykal) with two pilots on board and a load consisting of five fuel drums for a total weight of 900 kilos. While cruising at an altitude of 1,150 metres, the engine exploded and stopped. The crew elected to carry out an emergency landing in a field located 49 km north of Amakinskaya-3 Airport. On landing, the aircraft hit small trees and crashed. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route from Sangar to Yakutsk-Magan Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 metres in snow falls, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a swampy and wooded area located 45 km from Sangar. All 13 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Yakutsk, the crew started the approach to Ust-Kuyga on a polar night with an OAT of -51° C. On final approach, at a distance of 1,150 metres from the runway threshold, the aircraft deviated to the right by 150 metres. The captain was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around but he decided to continue the approach. Unstable, the aircraft's speed dropped to 210 km/h and on the last segment, it lost height, causing the right main gear to struck the runway surface. On impact, the right main gear was torn off, followed shortly later by the nose gear. Out of control, the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The Antonov departed Yakutsk on a crew training flight. Two approach and landings were carried out using flap settings of 38 and 15 degrees. During the third approach the captain called for lowering of the landing gear. The flight engineer moved the landing gear handle from neutral into the "retract" position. He did not check for three greens so failed to notice his mistake. Then the captain requested the flaps to be selected at 10 degrees. The Antonov turned to finals, but the crew did not carry out the final approach checks and continued after having obtained landing clearance. Fourteen seconds before touchdown an air traffic controller informed the crew that they should go around because the landing gear was not down. The captain did not hear this because at that moment height and speed were called out by the flight engineer. Five seconds later the controller repeated his warning. One of the crew members heard the call and noticed three reds on the instrument panel. He informed that captain about this, but it was already too late. The captain added takeoff power, but within three seconds the tail struck the runway. The airplane skidded about 1000 metres before coming to rest.

The crew departed Polyarny Airport on a cargo flight to Olenek. En route, weather conditions worsened with mist, low clouds and icing conditions. The crew decided to return to Polyarny when the engine lost power. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in rough terrain. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft departed Pokrovsk on an ambulance flight to Sangar with intermediate stops in Magan and Kobyay. On approach to Kobyay Airport, the aircraft was too high and its speed was excessive. Rather than initiating a go-around procedure, the captain continued the approach and landed 375 metres pas the runway threshold (the runway length is 600 metres). Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with various obstacles and came to rest 50 metres further. The crew did not report the incident to the company and decided to take off few minutes later. After liftoff, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient speed and height. It struck trees and crashed in a snow covered terrain, bursting into flames. All 13 occupants were injured, among them five seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The aircraft was engaged in a special flight from Yakutsk to Sangar with an intermediate stop in Kobyay, carrying doctors who came to provide care to local populations. Few minutes after takeoff from Yakutsk-Magan Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 1,150 metres at a speed of 180 km/h, the engine started to vibrate and lost power, Also, the oil pressure dropped and the speed decreased. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a swampy area when the aircraft rolled for about 32 metres and nosed over. A passenger was killed and all other occupants were injured, four seriously.