Country
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Samara: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 17, 2007 at 1140 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65021
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Surgut - Samara - Belgorod
MSN:
48390
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
UT471
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
35154
Aircraft flight cycles:
22611
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Surgut on a flight to Belgorod with an intermediate stop in Samara, carrying 50 passengers and 7 crew members. While descending to Samara-Kurumoch Airport, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was below minimums. After the approach checklist was completed, the crew lowered the landing gear, selected flaps down at 30° and continued the approach. In poor visibility, the aircraft descended below the MDA until it struck the ground at a speed of 320 km/h and crashed 304 metres from the runway threshold and 95 metres to the left of its extended centerline. The aircraft came to rest upside down and partially burned. Six passengers were killed, 21 other occupants were injured and 30 people escaped uninjured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 150 metres with an RVR of 200 metres for runway 23 and a vertical visibility of 300 feet in freezing fog.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue the descent below MDA in below minimums weather conditions until the aircraft impacted ground and crashed. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Organizational, technical and procedural deficiencies in the work and interactions between the met office and ATC services as well as from the crew,
- Deficiencies in the standards and technical documentation of the Samara Airport that made it impossible for ATC to inform the crew on a timely manner about the readings from the KRAMS-4 weather station that indicated a deterioration of the weather conditions below airport minimums,
- At decision height, in the absence of reliable visual contact with the approach lights and airport environment, the flight crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- ATC failure to use the full capability of the radar equipment because of contradictions in the relevant standards and procedures documents,
- Poor crew coordination and their delay in executing a missed approach procedure,
- Lack of unified federal regulations covering flight operations, ATC, met and other services, taking into account both domestic and international experience in flight safety.
- Organizational, technical and procedural deficiencies in the work and interactions between the met office and ATC services as well as from the crew,
- Deficiencies in the standards and technical documentation of the Samara Airport that made it impossible for ATC to inform the crew on a timely manner about the readings from the KRAMS-4 weather station that indicated a deterioration of the weather conditions below airport minimums,
- At decision height, in the absence of reliable visual contact with the approach lights and airport environment, the flight crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- ATC failure to use the full capability of the radar equipment because of contradictions in the relevant standards and procedures documents,
- Poor crew coordination and their delay in executing a missed approach procedure,
- Lack of unified federal regulations covering flight operations, ATC, met and other services, taking into account both domestic and international experience in flight safety.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134AK at Simferopol-Gvardeyskoye AFB
Date & Time:
Jul 10, 2006
Operator:
Registration:
05 red
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gvardeyskoye AFB - Moscow-Chkalovsky
MSN:
63875
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from Simferopol-Gvardeyskoye AFB, the captain started the rotation and the nose gear lifted up. At the same time, the left engine exploded. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking procedure. Few seconds were necessary for the nose to land back on runway then the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 28 occupants were rescued, among them 3 were slightly injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. Among those on board was the Admiral Vladimir Masorin of the Russian Navy who was flying back to Moscow following a general inspection of the military installations in Simferopol.
Probable cause:
Failure and explosion of the left engine at takeoff following a bird strike.
Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A-3 in Buchalki: 44 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 24, 2004 at 2253 LT
Operator:
Registration:
RA-65080
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Volgograd
MSN:
60065
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
WLG1303
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Aircraft flight hours:
30751
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow-Domodedovo Airport at 2230LT on a regular service to Volgograd with 35 passengers and a crew of nine on board. Some 23 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 8,100 metres, the aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located near Buchalki. The wreckage was found in the middle of the night and all 44 occupants were killed. The accident occurred at the same time of a Tupolev TU-154 operated by Sibir Airlines.
Probable cause:
The Federal Safety Board (FSB) reported 3 days later that the accident was the consequence of the explosion of a bomb. Two women flying from Makhatshala landed in Moscow at 1945LT and were able to embark with the explosive device following security deficiencies.
