Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32322

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G97-34

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

SU185Y

Location:

Lensk

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During initial climb, at a height of about 15-20 meters, the rear cabin door opened accidentally. Two passengers unfastened their seatbelt to close the door. This movement in the cabin caused the center of gravity to move past the rear limit by 37%. The aircraft reached a super critical angle of attack and at a speed of 60-65 km/h, it stalled and crashed in a near flat attitude near the runway (rate of descent estimated between six and eight meters per second). Two passengers were killed while 10 other occupants were injured. The copilot died from his injuries two days later.

Probable cause:

The wrong reaction of two passengers who decided to unfasten their seatbelt to close the cabin door, causing the CofG to be out of aft limit.

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

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1979 at 1652 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-70805

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Olenek - Saskylakh

MSN:

1G133-08

YOM:

1972

Location:

Olenyok

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft took off from Olenek Airport at 1651LT. While climbing to a height of 100-120 meters, the engine lost power. The captain decided to return for an emergency landing and initiated a turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed, one minute after takeoff. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of engine power was the consequence of the malfunction of the spark plugs due to an excessive accumulation of tetraethyl plumb.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Chersky

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-92851

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1G53-03

YOM:

1965

Location:

Chersky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed after an engine failure. Occupant fate unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Chersky: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1978 at 1743 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-26547

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chersky - Zyrianka

MSN:

57302810

YOM:

1975

Location:

Chersky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Chersky to Zyrianka, carrying two loadmasters, five crew members and a load consisting of eight wooden copper coils. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 200 km/h, the pilot-in-command started the rotation (the rotation speed was calculated at 215 km/h). The airplane rotated and continued to climb until the altitude of 150 meters when it entered stall conditions. It turn to the right and crashed in a huge explosion on an hotel located near the airport. The aircraft and the hotel were totally destroyed by a post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the stall and subsequent loss of control during initial climb was caused by the cargo shifting. Investigations revealed that the wooden copper coils were not properly installed and secured in the cabin but only fixed with the onboard winch cable. At liftoff, the wooden copper coils moved to the rear of the cabin, causing the CofG to be out of the enveloppe and the aircraft to be uncontrollable. Loadmasters failed to install and secure the wooden copper coils according to the published procedures and failed to use appropriate equipment such as nets or belts. The copilot exercised an unsatisfactory supervision of the loading while the captain decided to takeoff despite the load was improperly secured.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Aldan

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1978 at 0652 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87911

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Aldan - Yakutsk

MSN:

9 73 18 54

YOM:

1977

Flight number:

SU401

Location:

Aldan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

422

Aircraft flight cycles:

301

Circumstances:

After a normal takeoff roll, the rotation was initiated at a speed of 178 km/h. During initial climb, the right wing dropped to an angle of 30°. Correction was attempted by ailerons but the airplane continued to descend, struck a 1,5 meter high snow wall and crash landed in a snow covered field. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All 12 passengers escaped uninjured while five crew members were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident and the reason of the right wing drop could not be established and identified. The takeoff speed was correct.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2T in Srednekolymsk

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1977 at 1156 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-55625

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Srednekolymsk – Nalimsk

MSN:

1123 473 05

YOM:

1959

Location:

Srednekolymsk

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Srednekolymsk Airport, while climbing to a height of 150 meters, the engine started to misfire. Power dropped and fire sprayed out from the right side of the engine. The crew elected to make an emergency landing but inadvertently switched off the battery so he was unable to lower the flaps. The airplane crash landed at high speed, lost its undercarriage and lower wings and came to a halt, broken in two. All five occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the engine misfiring as a result of a failure of the rear spark plug on cylinder n°2, which occurred as a result of the central electrode falling out of the candle with subsequent burning of its body in the cylindrical part near the turnkey hexagon. The falling out of the central electrode of the rear spark plug of cylinder n°2 was caused by the destruction of the insulator due to the formation of a microcrack and internal stresses in the insulator in the process of making candles. According to the conclusions of the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation, this defect was the consequence of a faulty design and manufacture.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Ust-Kuyga

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-26536

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2003

YOM:

1974

Location:

Ust-Kuyga

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the last segment, the pilot-in-command abruptly reduced the engine power, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and to struck the runway surface. The aircraft then rolled for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

An excessive reduction of the engine power on final caused the aircraft to lose altitude and to roughly struck the runway surface. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Insufficient approach speed,
- Confusion by the flying crew,
- Incorrect compensation of the wind component,
- Limited runway length.

Crash of an Avia 14 in Vitim: 39 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52096

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vitim - Irkutsk

MSN:

086 806109

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

SU002B

Location:

Vitim

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20464

Aircraft flight cycles:

20467

Circumstances:

The takeoff was attempted from a dirt runway with puddles. After a course of 345 meters, the pilot-in-command started the rotation and the nose gear left the ground. 150 meters further, the right main gear struck two cones located on the right side of the runway. The airplane went off runway then took off after a course of 945 meters. During initial climb, after a course of 200 meters and at an altitude of 14 meters, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. A passenger was injured while 39 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The crew attempted to takeoff from an impassable runway with a tailwind component.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Chokurdakh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1977 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-40572

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G84-25

YOM:

1967

Location:

Chokurdakh

Country:

Region: