Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1990 at 0853 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-41803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mirny - Vostok
MSN:
1460 009 38
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
32985
Aircraft flight cycles:
13353
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a supply mission to an expedition in Antarctica between both stations of Mirny and Vostok when the right engine failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed on a glacier located 560 km from Mirny Ice Station. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine due to a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Ground fire of an Avia 14PT in Mirny: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1989 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52066
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
030 703108
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While parked and refueled at the Mirny Ice Station, the aircraft caught fire. Fire brigade arrived on scene in 10 minutes but the aircraft was already destroyed. Three crew members who were preparing the flight scheduled for midnight were killed. At the time of the accident, the outside temperature was -9° C. with good visibility (over 20 km) and a wind of 50 km/h (14 meters per second).
Crew:
Mr. Ananiev,
Mr. Semin,
Mr. Rogovenko.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the fire could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12L at Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04249
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30 099
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mirny Ice Station, the airplane was too low and struck the ground. On impact, the skis and the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest on its belly. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown, somewhere in January 1959.
Probable cause:
Too low approach on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 at Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At Mirny Ice Station, the crew was ready for takeoff and taxied to the runway when the airplane failed to enter the runway, skidded and got stuck on the edge of the runway. There were no injuries among the occupants and several attempts were made to salvage the airplane but without success. The ice broke out and the airplane drifted down.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to procedures and started to move the aircraft with the tail still locked.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 at Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N496
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
18430801
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight from the area of Mount Brown to the Mirny Ice Station, the pilot lifted off at low speed and retracted the gear too early, causing the aircraft to stall and crash. There were no casualties. The accident occurred sometime in February 1958 (exact date unknown).
Probable cause:
Premature liftoff and premature retraction of the undercarriage at rotation.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Mirny Ice Station

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N501
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Komsomolskaya - Mirny Ice Station
MSN:
18430705
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight from Komsomolskaya Ice Station to Mirny Ice Station, the crew forgot to switch over the fuel tank selector so both engines flamed out. The aircraft crash landed on the ice-shield some 80 km from the abandoned Vostok-1 Ice Station, some 3,000 meters above sea level. There were no casualties. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown (sometime in February 1958).
Probable cause:
Crew error.