Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Arkhangelsk

Date & Time: Nov 8, 2018 at 1054 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-84674
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk – Soyana – Dolgoshchel’e – Mezen
MSN:
1G191-52
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
9135
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4742
Captain / Total hours on type:
4336.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
969
Copilot / Total hours on type:
761
Aircraft flight hours:
13509
Aircraft flight cycles:
20389
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Arkhangelsk-Vaskovo Airport on a flight to Mezen with intermediate stops in Soyana and Dolgoshchel’e, carrying 12 passengers (11 adults and one child) and two pilots. En route, weather conditions deteriorated with drizzle. The crew reduced his altitude from 400 to 300 metres when frost formed on the windshield. The captain decided to return to Arkhangelsk but the aircraft' speed dropped from 170 to 120 km/h. Unable to maintain the speed and altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located about 50 km northeast of Arkhangelsk-Talaghy Airport. All 14 occupants were rescued, among them two passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident with the An-2 RA-84674 aircraft occurred during a forced landing in the forest, the need for which was due to the impossibility of continuing the flight due to the effect of icing on the aerodynamic and traction characteristics of the aircraft (the inability to maintain altitude and speed even with the takeoff engine operating mode). The contributing factor, most likely, was the decision of the crew to climb over 150 m from the ground level, where the presence of stratus clouds and icing was predicted.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Vozhdoroma: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1990 at 1544 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-07207
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rochegda – Bereznik – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
1G146-36
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU744
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
13463
Aircraft flight cycles:
13919
Circumstances:
En route to Arkhangelsk, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew decided to continue rather than to return to Bereznik. After being cleared to descend to an altitude of 150 meters, the aircraft entered an area of poor visibility when the crew lost his orientation. This caused the aircraft to deviate from the prescribed routing when, shortly later, it struck the cable of an antenna located in a military zone, about one km from Vozhdoroma. The aircraft lost height and crashed 250 meters further, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions (below weather mimina conditions) at an unsafe altitude and the failure to return to the departure point.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24RV in Leshukonskoye: 44 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1983 at 0853 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46617
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Leshukonskoye
MSN:
37308704
YOM:
1973
Flight number:
SU601
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Aircraft flight hours:
20761
Aircraft flight cycles:
14302
Circumstances:
While approaching Leshukonskoye Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to freezing fog. On final, despite his position was wrong, the pilot decided to pass below the glide and continued. He then reduced the approach speed and initiated a slight turn to the right when the unstable aircraft lost height, banked left and crashed 230 meters from the runway threshold and 110 meters to the right of its extended centerline, bursting into flames. Four crew members and 40 passengers were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to continue the approach beyond the MDA without any visual contact with the ground/runway. The pilot-in-command failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the approach configuration was wrong and despite the aircraft was unstable. Doing so, he failed to follow the published approach procedures. Lack of crew coordination and poor visibility due to freezing fog were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Amderma: 40 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 0101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46269
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk - Amderma
MSN:
77303602
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
SU513
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Aircraft flight hours:
19917
Aircraft flight cycles:
13194
Circumstances:
The approach to Amderma Airport was initiated by night when the airplane descended below the glide. At a speed of 206 km/h, the airplane struck the ground 1,850 meters short of runway threshold and crashed in flames on a small hill located 140 meters to the left of the extended centerline. Two passengers and a crew member were seriously injured while all 40 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a series of violations on part of the flying crew who failed to follow the published procedures regarding the approach completed by night, which resulted in a premature descent, causing the aircraft to continue the approach below the glide until impact with the ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The real altitude of the aircraft was less than the one reported by the navigator,
- The pilot-in-command decided to continue the approach once the aircraft passed below the glide,
- The pilot-in-command failed to initiate a go-around maneuver,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The navigator in charge of the approach was under training and his instructor failed to assist during the approach maneuver,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 816 kilos above the MTOW at takeoff from Arkhangelsk.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Yernozero Lake: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1975 at 1208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01247
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yernozero Lake - Arkhangelsk
MSN:
17047311
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
16542
Aircraft flight cycles:
18629
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane equipped with skis was engaged in a special flight from Yernozero Lake, about 108 km northeast of Arkhangelsk, carrying 12 fisherman back to Arkhangelsk. The takeoff was completed from the icy lake covered with fresh snow. During initial climb with flaps at 30°, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and with a relative low speed of 100 km/h, it struck tree tops (about 40 meters high) located on the shore of the lake. With a high angle of attack, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots and a passenger were seriously injured while 12 other occupants were killed. Four days later, the captain died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew inadvertently completed the takeoff procedure at a too low airspeed and with an excessive angle of attack for undetermined reason. This caused the aircraft to climb slowly and to adopt a high nose attitude before it struck trees located 1,410 meters after liftoff. The takeoff roll was too long, about 428 meters, on an icy lake whose ice was thawing and covered with fresh snow.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Arkhangelsk

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1966 at 1407 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75552
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk – Leningrad – Riga
MSN:
184 0074 04
YOM:
1964
Flight number:
SU3772
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
114
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
3042
Aircraft flight cycles:
2297
Circumstances:
During takeoff run at Arkhangelsk-Talaghi Airport, the crew encountered control problems. As the airplane was unstable, the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and started an emergency brake maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overrun and came to rest. Ten passengers were injured while all 111 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to heavy structural damages.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to prepare the flight according to checklist and forgot to unlock the rudder prior to takeoff.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 on Mt Belaya: 18 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1960 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04200
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mys Shmidta – Perek – Cherski – Chokurdakh – Tiksi – Khatanga – Dikson – Amderma – Arkhangelsk – Cherepovets – Moscow
MSN:
1470 014 18
YOM:
17
Flight number:
SU804
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
3580
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a special flight from Mys Schmidta to Moscow with polar researchers from the Soviet Air Force on board. On the leg from Arkhangelsk to Cherepovets, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was flying at an insufficient altitude when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Belaya located in the region of Fedorovskaya, about 315 km southwest of Arkhangelsk. The aircraft was destroyed and all 18 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: visibility 4 km below cloud layer at 300 meters, fog, wind at 10 km/h and rain.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the captain decided to continue the flight at an insufficient altitude in poor weather conditions (below minima). Informations related to weather conditions were incomplete, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Kepino: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1955 at 1051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N479
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mys-Kamennyy – Amderma – Arkhangelsk – Moscow
MSN:
30 236
YOM:
27
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
2630
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,700 meters between Amderma and Arkhangelsk, a technical failure occurred on the manifold of the left engine, causing fuel to spill in the nacelle and a fire to develop. The crew tried to extinguish the fire but without success. So the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located near Poltozero Lake. Rescuers arrived on site a day later and were able to evacuate 26 wounded people while five others were killed, among them four crew members as the cockpit was totally destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the direct cause of the accident was a fire that occurred in the nacelle of the left engine due to the failure of a fuel line, presumably from a ringing tube located in the left nacelle as a result of a metallurgical defect. The fuel then spilled inside the nacelle and ignited in contact with exhaust gases. The nacelle caught fire and later, the engine detached. It was also reported that the validity of the certificate of airworthiness expired on March 2, which obviously did not provide an opportunity to fly to Pevek and back. A small remainder of the resource obliged the crew to closely monitor the condition of the material part and regularly perform the required maintenance at the intermediate airports. In fact, the crew in the process of the flight exceeded the established daily norm and failed to perform the 25-hour routine maintenance during the three-day parking at Pevek Airport.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Nijnyaya Pyocha: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1949 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4991
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arkhangelsk – Mezen – Nijnyaya Pyocha – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
43 09
YOM:
23
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
757
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 15-20 meters in strong crosswinds, the aircraft adopted a nose up attitude and stalled. It crashed 75 meters past the runway end and came to rest. Three crew members were killed while the radio operator was seriously injured. The crew was completing a cargo flight from Nijnyaya Pyocha to Arkhangelsk with a load of deer carcasses for a total of two tons.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cargo was incorrectly loaded and unsecured. After rotation, the cargo shifted rearward, causing the center of gravity to move outside of the enveloppe and causing the aircraft to adopt a high angle of attack (high nose up attitude) and to stall. Strong crosswinds (up to 60 km/h) and a rushed departure on behalf of the crew were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200C Condor into the Kara Sea

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N400
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Igarka – Arkhangelsk
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
90
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered technical problems with two engines that should be shut down and their propeller feathered. Few minutes later, a third engine failed and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in the icy bay of Bajdarackaja Guba located in the south part of the Kara Sea. The aircraft crashed landed on ice and came to rest with its right wing broken in two and the engine number one sheared off. All 21 occupants were evacuated 16 days later. Recently imported in Russia, the aircraft totalized 90 flying hours only.