Crash of an Antonov AN-72 in Nagurskoye

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1996 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vorkouta – Nagurskoye
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Nagurskoye Airport was completed by a polar night and in poor weather conditions with snow falls. After landing on an iced and snow covered runway, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Nine occupants were injured, among them four seriously. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP on Mt Konstantinov Kamen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-01495
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Mys-Kamennyy - Vorkuta
MSN:
1G232-29
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Mys-Kamennyy to Vorkuta, weather conditions deteriorated with limited visibility due to low clouds. The crew decided to return to Mys-Kamennyy but this decision was taken too late. At an altitude of 452 metres, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Konstantinov Kamen (492 metres high). The wreckage was found few hours later. All eight passengers suffered light to moderate injuries while both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was about 200 metres and the crew lost his orientation and was unable to know his exact position. The wreckage was found about 40 km off the planned route. The accident is the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-72 in Vorkuta

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-72960
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
36572093865
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Vorkuta, the left engine suffered a hydraulic failure. The crew lost control of the aircraft that deviated to the left, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Amderma: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1991 at 1624 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ostafyevo AFB - Ryazan - Vorkuta - Tiksi
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Ostafyevo AFB on a flight to Tiksi with intermediate stops in Ryazan and Vorkuta, carrying 15 passengers, seven crew members and a load of 6 tons of plumbing and communication equipments. En route from Ryazan to Vorkuta, the crew was diverted to Amderma due to poor weather conditions. But on approach to Amderma, the crew also encountered poor weather conditions and initiated the descent prematurely. On final, the aircraft struck an ammunition depot and crashed in a snow covered field located 1,500 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. Two passengers were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was approaching Amderma Airport at an insufficient altitude after the crew initiated the descent prematurely. It was reported that the ILS system was unserviceable at the time of the accident.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 on Mt Khuuta

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04340
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Mys Kamennyy – Vorkuta
MSN:
1104 473 10
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a flight from Mys Kamennyy to Vorkuta in support of a military unit, when deviated from the prescribed flight path by 45 km due to negligence of the crew. Encountered poor visibility, failed to return, descended to 300 metres and crash-landed on the eastern slope of Mt Khuuta (622 meters high) located in the region of Aksarka. All eight occupants were uninjured and evacuated by helicopters.
Probable cause:
Negligence on part of the crew.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB in Vorkuta

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11360
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Amderma - Khatanga - Magadan
MSN:
4 028 05
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Moscow-Domodedovo to Amderma, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions in Amderma and was cleared to divert to Vorkuta Airport. While on a night approach with a visibility limited to 850 meters, the captain was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and crashed into a ravine located about 140 meters short of runway threshold. All eight occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach in below-minima weather conditions and the decision of the captain to attempt a go-around was taken too late.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12TB at Sovyetski AFB

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11374
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norilsk – Vorkuta
MSN:
4 024 04
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Norilsk Airport on a flight to Vorkuta by night, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing in Vorkuta was not possible due to poor weather conditions and a below-minima visibility. The crew was diverted to the Sovetskiy AFB located east of Vorkuta and also know as Vorkuta-2 Airport. In poor visibility and crosswinds, the airplane landed 15 metres to the left of the snow covered runway, crashed into the snow and came to rest, broken in two. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Approach to a poor equipped airfield below minima weather conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Pechora: 26 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1966 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52058
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vorkuta – Syktyvkar
MSN:
7 34 36 09
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
SU302
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Aircraft flight hours:
17157
Circumstances:
An hour after he departed Vorkuta Airport bound for Syktyvkar, the crew reported a fire on the right engine. For undetermined reason, the crew was unable to extinguish the fire and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. At a height of 100 meters, the right engine detached and out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in an icy pond located near the Bolchaya Vyatkina River. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 26 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The right engine number five cylinder broke in flight, which resulted in the breaking of the connecting rod and the failure of the cylinders number three and seven. The destruction of these three cylinders caused the hydraulic fluid to be ejected from the crankcase through the exhaust manifold, causing a violent fire that the crew was unable to extinguish.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M in Vorkuta

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-61778
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1470 015 19
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vorkuta Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In low visibility, the airplane descended too low and struck the ground few dozen yards short of runway threshold. While the airplane was written off, all five crew members were evacuated.
Probable cause:
Wrong altimeter setting ont part of the flying crew who received wrong atmospheric pressure value from the ground, causing the aircraft to be too low on approach in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Vorkuta

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N456
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vorkuta - Vorkuta
MSN:
184 277 05
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
434
Circumstances:
Following the disappearance of a LI-2 registered CCCP-N444 on March 7, rescue operations were conducted and dispatched. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions (heavy snow falls), most of the crew were forced to stay on the ground. That day, a crew decided to make a sortie but the runway at Vorkuta Airport has not been cleared of snow. The captain ask three crew members to seat in the rear of the cabin and started the takeoff procedure on a snow covered runway (up to 30 cm of snow). After a course of about 700 meters, the aircraft lifted off but failed to gain height due to an insufficient speed. After passing the runway end, the aircraft hit the roof of a house, lost an engine, stalled and crashed in a field. All six crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.