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Zabaykalsky Krai

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A in Chita

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42335
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chita – Novosibirsk – Chelyabinsk – Moscow
MSN:
7 66 005 01
YOM:
1957
Location:
Chita-Kadala
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
110
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After a long roll at Chita-Kadala Airport, the aircraft took off very late at a speed of 275 km/h. During initial climb, it struck the embankment of a railway road located 322 metres past the runway end. It crash landed in a field, slid for dozen metres then turn to the left and came to rest. Four passengers and a flight attendant were injured while 112 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 5 tons above the MTOW at the time of the accident (75,300 kilos).

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B in Chita

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42501
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
0 2 18 04
YOM:
1960
Location:
Chita-Kadala
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
17301
Aircraft flight cycles:
12990
Circumstances:
After landing at Chita-Kadala Airport, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. It rolled for about 430 meters before colliding with a railway embankment. There were no injuries while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104B near Chita: 81 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1973 at 0938 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42411
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Chelyabinsk – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk – Chita
MSN:
8 2 03 03
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
SU109
Location:
Chita
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
72
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
81
Aircraft flight hours:
19329
Aircraft flight cycles:
8841
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on the leg from Irkutsk to Chita, a hijacker went into the cockpit and ordered the crew to fly to China. Negotiations between the crew and the hijacker were unfruitful and after few minutes, a member of the militia shot the hijacker. Before dying, the hijacker was able to fire a system connected to several grenades attached to his belt. A huge detonation occurred in the cabin, causing the aircraft to disintegrate in the air. From an altitude of 6,500 meters, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in the taiga about 97 km west of Chita. Debris were found on a wide area and none of the 81 occupants survived the crash. Soviet Authorities later reported that the hijacker was a mental imbalance and explained his gesture by their recent refusal to grant him a job position within the diplomatic corps.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a 'bomb' after being hijacked.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Udokan Plateau: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1969 at 1152 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09168
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tynda – Ust'-Nyukzha – Chara
MSN:
1G20-11
YOM:
14
Location:
Chara
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
6079
Circumstances:
The crew encountered below-minima weather conditions with low clouds and rain while flying along the valley of the river Khani. The aircraft crashed at a height of some 1,800 metres into a mountain (1,860 metres) located in the Udokan Plateau, Zabaykalsky kray. The wreckage was found 11 days later, on July 16. All four crew were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Gazimurski Zavod: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1967 at 1146 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-49345
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gazimurski Zavod - Gazimurski Zavod
MSN:
1G12-29
YOM:
1961
Location:
Gazimurski Zavod
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
4944
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz of Gazimuro-Zavodski when the aircraft lost height while flying a left turn at low height. It stalled and crashed in flames in an open field located six km west of the airport of Gazimurski Zavod. The aircraft burnt out and was destroyed. A pilot was killed while the second one was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the following assumptions could not be ruled out:
- Engine failure during the last turn to the left at low height,
- Wrong piloting technique on part of the pilot who performing a sharp turn at low height,
- Loss of situational awareness on part of the pilot.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14G in Chita: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1961 at 0007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-61732
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Chita – Khabarovsk
MSN:
1470 014 31
YOM:
1957
Location:
Chita-Kadala
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
4698
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Irkutsk to Khabarovsk with an intermediate stop in Chita, carrying a load of brake linings and hoses for a total weight of 3,031 kilos. While approaching Chita-Kadala Airport by night, the airplane was too low, struck trees and crashed on the slope of Mt Cherskogo located 11 km short of runway threshold. The wreckage was found 170 meters below the summit and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and was at an insufficient altitude of 700 meters instead of 1,200 meters when the airplane struck the mountain. Due to the lack of visibility caused by night, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. It was also reported that ATC assistance was inappropriate, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-104A near Chita: 64 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1958 at 2220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-104
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5442
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Irkutsk
MSN:
7 35 03 03
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU004
Location:
Chita
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
58
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
64
Aircraft flight hours:
1041
Aircraft flight cycles:
401
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Khabarovsk Airport with a delay of 3 hours and 35 minutes due to poor weather conditions. En route, while cruising at an assigned altitude of 11,000 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the captain decided to gain height to avoid the low pressure area. Shortly later, while at an altitude of 12,000 meters, the airplane went out of control and nosed down. It dove into the ground and crashed by an angle of 60° nose down in a field located near Chita. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 64 occupants were killed. Debris were scattered on a distance of about 450 meters.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a loss of controllability due to atmospheric turbulences while cruising at an altitude of 12,000 meters which is in excess with the flying limitations and certification of the aircraft. Due to marginal weather conditions, the flight should be cancelled or postponed. The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the ground operations, flying crew and flight director,
- The flight was delayed of 3 hours and 35 minutes, causing the aircraft to fly in worse weather conditions than predicted,
- Inadequate weather forecast,
- Poor weather conditions with atmospheric turbulences,
- Lack of clear instructions concerning the aircraft operation limitations (ceiling altitude),
- Violation of standard operating procedures.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Aksha: 27 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1957 at 1855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1389
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Moscow – Irkutsk – Chita – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30 123
YOM:
21
Flight number:
SU011
Location:
Aksha
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Aircraft flight hours:
9996
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on the leg from Irkutsk to Chita, the crew lost his orientation and requested ATC assistance, without success. The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south and due to fuel exhaustion, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. Following three unsuccessful attempts, the captain elected a fourth landing attempt when, at an altitude of 900 meters, the airplane clip trees, continued for about 340 meters and eventually crashed in a dense wooded area. A passenger was seriously injured and later evacuated while all 27 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to adhere to published procedures and did not follow the route mentioned on the flight plan because he failed to use the automatic direction finder properly. Following several mistakes and a lack of awareness, the crew failed to take the appropriate actions to establish his position. It was also considered that the ATC assistance was insufficient and inefficient.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell near Khilok: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1944 at 1302 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chita – Ulan-Ude – Moscow
Location:
Khilok
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Chita-Cheryomushki Airport at 1210LT, carrying a delegation of eight Soviet officers who were returning to Moscow following an inspection of the Far East Air Force Unit. Some 52 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Khilok. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended on November 11, 1944 as no trace of the airplane nor the occupants was found. The wreckage was located in September 1945. All eight occupants were killed, among them General Vladimir Ivanovitch Artamonov.
Occupants:
Col Vladimir Ivanovitch Artamonov,
Col A. P. Naumov,
Col P. K. Pomortsev,
Lt Col P. A. Bogdanov,
Lt Col I. G. Kramarenko,
Lt J. C. Goetz,
Sgt Zhirnov,
Sgt Kazachenk.
Source: http://wikimapia.org/20707306/ru

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-4 in Chita

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1 & G-1)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-300
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chita - Chita
MSN:
603
YOM:
1929
Location:
Chita
Zabaykalsky Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local test and control flight in preparation of the first flight between Moscow and New York. In flight, a technical failure forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing in the taiga. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.
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