Zaporizhia Oblast

Coded 37 Red and operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS-Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily Rossii), the airplane was engaged in a survey mission of the south Crimea area when it was apparently shot down by Ukrainian Forces and crashed into the Azov Sea off the city of Kyrylivka. It is believed that all 11 crew members have been killed.

The crew departed Zaporozhie Airport on a local test flight according to local authorities, carrying three crew members. While flying at low height, the airplane collided with power line and crashed in an open field located in Mykhailivka, some 11 km northwest of the airport. A crew member was killed and two others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Following an uneventful flight from Odessa, the crew started the approach and was cleared to descend to 1,200 meters. On final, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. Despite a limited visibility and the actual conditions, ATC cleared the aircraft to continue the approach and to land. The three engine aircraft passed over the threshold at a height of 40-50 meters and at an excessive speed of about 250 km/h. The aircraft landed too far down the runway and after touchdown on a wet surface, the crew started the braking maneuver but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, rolled about 450 meters then struck two trees, crossed a road and came to rest in a field, bursting into flames. Two crew members and six passengers were killed while 21 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were below Airport minimums.

The crew departed Zaporozhie Airport at 1257LT on a local training flight. About 11 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 metres in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC that he was losing height when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a 25-30° nose down attitude and a 6° left bank in a field located 20 km northwest of Zaporozhie Airport and 1,400 metres from the Novogupalovka Station. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants have been killed.

The airplane was cleared of snow prior to departure but as it was snowing continuously, the aircraft was again covered by snow between the moment it was deiced and the takeoff procedure. During the takeoff roll in poor weather conditions (snowfall and poor visibility), the pilot-in-command started the rotation. The aircraft lifted off and climbed for few meters when the left wing dropped, causing the left main gear to struck the runway surface. The airplane landed back and the crew decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and the left wing collided with the building of a meteorological post located 25 metres behind the runway threshold. All 3 crew and 14 passengers escaped unhurt.

During a formation flight in restricted visibility the pilot, thinking that he passed the leading aircraft, decreased the flying speed to 300 km/h. Simultaneously his plane entered a wake vortex from the leading An-12. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all seven crew members.

The descent to Zaporozhie Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions but with a visibility estimated to 4 km, above the minima. On final approach, the airplane was not properly aligned on the glide and the captain failed to follow the instructions transmitted by ATC and the warnings from his navigator. Eventually, while at an altitude of 40 meters, he elected to make a go around, increased engine power and started a turn to the right but it was too late. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located short of runway. A crew member and six passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

The airplane departed Dnepropetrovsk Airport at 1547LT and its crew was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 5,100 meters. At 1558LT, the crew reported at 3,600 meters still climbing. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the propeller blade n°2 separated from the left engine and struck the fuselage, severing elevator and aileron control cables. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive until it struck the ground in a 45-50° nose down attitude and at a estimated speed of 500-550 km/h. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 55 occupants were killed.

A NKPO PL-5 registered CCCP-I93 departed Zaporozhie Airport on a flight to Moscow with two passengers and two crew members. Few minutes after takeoff, for unknown reasons, the crew decided to return tp Zaporozhie. In the mean time, an Aeroflot Tupolev ANT-9 was ready for a flight to Moscow, the second leg of a schedule service from Simferopol to Moscow, carrying nine passengers and two crew members. For unknown reasons, the crew of the PL-5 decided to land without permission as well as the crew of the ANT-9 started the takeoff procedure on the same runway without permission. Both airplanes collided on the runway and burst into flames. Three passengers on board the ANT-9 were injured while 8 others occupants were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries. On board the PL-5, two people were killed and two others were injured.