Region

Crash of a BAe 125-800B in Minsk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 2009 at 2134 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-02807
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Minsk
MSN:
258076
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
RLS9607
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
11926
Captain / Total hours on type:
811.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2356
Copilot / Total hours on type:
811
Aircraft flight hours:
12751
Aircraft flight cycles:
7979
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, the crew started a night approach to Minsk-2 Airport runway 31. On approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to marginal weather. The 'Pull Up' alarm sounded and the captain initiated a go-around procedure. Few minutes later, the crew attempted a second approach to land. At an altitude of about 550 metres, the crew realized he was on the wrong ILS frequency and corrected it. On final, the EGPWS alarm sounded for 35 seconds but the captain decided to continue the approach until the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located 3 km short of runway, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash of BAe-125-800B RA-02807 during the ILS approach procedure at night, in weather conditions that met ICAO CAT I, was the failure to take timely action by the crew to carry out a missed approach, or divert to an alternate, when the ground could not be seen while descending below decision height during a transition to visual flight, and the lack of a proper response and action required when the TAWS alarm repeatedly sounded, which led to the collision of the aircraft with obstacles (forest) and land in a controlled flight (CFIT), its destruction and death of people on board.

Contributing factors were:
- Deficiencies in the type of retraining and training of the flight crew, especially in the use of automatic flight modes, and flight director;
- Erroneous actions of the captain, which led to an execution of the approach with the wrong ILS frequency set on the left set;
- Lack of preparation of the commander of the plane for an approach in weather conditions that meet CAT I ICAO.
Values of meteorological conditions in the flight log were in most cases were falsified;
- Poor communication and crew resource management (CRM) of the flightcrew;
- Poor control of the level of training of the crew by the airline's management and lack of organization in the airline's flight operations;
- Psychological characteristics of the pilots, unrecorded in the formation of the crew and, possibly, reduced efficiency of the captain in a stressful situation because of chronic ischemic heart disease with coronary artery problems, which was not detected when passing aviation medical checks.
Final Report:

Ground accident of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Gomel

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70511
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1G144-22
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at Gomel Airport, the aircraft was subject to engine test runs. In unknown circumstances, it went out of control and collided with another parked AN-2 registered CCCP-40842. There were no injuries while both aircraft were damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Doūbizna: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1989 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-54891
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Doūbizna - Doūbizna
MSN:
1G186-39
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
4571
Aircraft flight cycles:
22855
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission on behalf of the collective farm 'Rossiya' located about 40 km north of Brest. In the evening, the crew embarked two unauthorized passengers for a local flight. While flying at a height of 15-20 meters, the pilot-in-command initiated a steep turn to the left when the aircraft rolled 45°, causing the left wing to struck the ground about 600 meters southwest of Doūbizna. Out of control, the aircraft crashed 89 meters further, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to perform an unauthorized local flight with two passengers on board. At the time of the accident, both pilots were intoxicated. Analysis revealed a blood alcohol level of 2,3‰ for the captain and 1,6‰ for the copilot.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Raklevichi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1989 at 1048 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-33363
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Raklevichi - Raklevichi
MSN:
1G226-22
YOM:
1987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
375
Aircraft flight cycles:
1791
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a spraying mission in Raklevichi on behalf of the 'Rossia' State Farm. The takeoff roll was abnormally long and the aircraft took off and climbed with an insufficient speed. One minute after liftoff, the single engine aircraft struck the tops of pine trees and crashed in a glade. The copilot was killed while the captain was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to properly prepare the flight and to follow the pre-takeoff checklist. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was overloaded as its total weight was 5,7 tons. Also, the crew failed to position the flaps properly for the takeoff procedure. It was reported that the captain was intoxicated with a level of 0,9‰ of alcohol in blood.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134AK in Minsk: 58 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1985 at 0801 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65910
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minsk - Leningrad
MSN:
63971
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
74
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
58
Aircraft flight hours:
685
Aircraft flight cycles:
448
Circumstances:
Six seconds after takeoff from runway 13 at Minsk-2 Airport, while climbing to a height of 35 meters and a speed of 325 km/h, the left engine lost power and failed. The crew continued to climb to a height of 220 meters, still at a speed of 325 km/h, when the right engine lost power and failed. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 10,100 meters from the airport, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 3 hours and 15 minutes later. 22 people were injured while 58 others were killed, among them three crew members.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft remained parked on the apron at Minsk-2 Airport for about a week prior to the flight and has not been deiced prior to takeoff. During initial climb, some ice detached from both wings and entered both engines, causing them to flame out.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Minsk

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-26686
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Riga – Minsk
MSN:
88 06
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Riga to Minsk-Loshitsa (Minsk-1) with the center of gravity being out of the envelope (too far aft), the aircraft came in too fast and too high on final approach. The captain failed to initiate a go-around and the aircraft touched down on all three wheels with a positive acceleration of 5.1 g and at a speed of 250 km/h. It bounced three times and suffered irreparable structural damages. All 5 crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration. Poor flight preparation and supervision.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-42 in Verbovichi: 132 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1982 at 1051 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42529
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leningrad - Kiev
MSN:
11 04 01 04
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
SU8641
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
124
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
132
Aircraft flight hours:
795
Aircraft flight cycles:
496
Circumstances:
Enroute from Leningrad to Kiev, the crew was cleared to descend from 9,000 to 7,800 meters in order to avoid a thunderstorm area. Few minutes later, the three engine aircraft entered a dive. During an uncontrolled descent, the aircraft lost several elements then partially disintegrated and eventually crashed at a speed of 810 km/h in fields and wooded areas. A huge crater was found at the point of impact, near the village of Verbovichi, and debris scattered all around on an area of 22,7 km2 (6,5 km long and 3,5 km wide). The accident was not survivable.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew lost control of the airplane after the jackscrew connected to the stabilizers mechanism failed due to an abnormal wear and also a structural imperfection of its mechanism. This caused the stabilizers to move down and to remain blocked in the down position. Despite several attempts, the crew was unable to regain control of the aircraft. Aerodynamic forces caused few elements of the airplane to brake off as they exceeded their certification. Investigations revealed that it was not possible for those in charge of the Yak-42 maintenance to detect the jackscrew abnormal wear because of an incomplete maintenance program. Similar problems were found on other Yak-42 and its certificate of airworthiness was suspended during investigations. Following modifications and updates, the Yak-42 came back into service at the end of the year 1984.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76 in Vitebsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-86714
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vitebsk - Vitebsk
MSN:
053403067
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Vitebsk. On approach, a technical problem occurred on the left flap that retracted. The airplane banked left then dove into the ground and crashed about 12 km from the airport. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a cog-wheel on the left flap broke on approach, causing an uncommanded retraction of the flap. Due to an asymmetric flaps deployment, control was lost.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Basino: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1979 at 1933 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-56413
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Malyushitsa – Rogotno
MSN:
1G180-57
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
709
Aircraft flight cycles:
3633
Circumstances:
All day, the crew completed crop spraying missions for the sovkhoz (state farm) of Rogotno and flew almost 16 hours. In the evening, the crew and two unauthorized people decided to takeoff for a flight from Malyushitsa (Korelichi district of the Grodno region) to Rogotno (Dyatlovo district of the Grodno region). En route, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions due to fog when the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in flames on a hilly terrain, about 2 km SSW of Basino (Novogrudok district of the Grodno region, 22 km northwest of Malyushitsa). The accident occurred nine minutes after sunset. While a passenger was killed, all three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to takeoff after sunset without clear information about weather conditions en route and was not authorized to initiate such flight. Various exams revealed that the crew was not intoxicated at the time of the accident, which was the case of the passengers.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Minsk: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1979 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-46807
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dnipropetrovsk - Kiev - Minsk
MSN:
67302109
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
SU7502
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
23844
Aircraft flight cycles:
17627
Circumstances:
The approach to Minsk-1 Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with low ceiling, limited visibility and icing conditions. On final, while in a slight nose down attitude, at a speed of 140 km/h, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in a snow covered field located 5,280 meters short of runway threshold. Three passengers were seriously injured while 11 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, two of the three survivors died from their injuries. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a premature deactivation of the deicing systems while completing an approach in icing conditions with flaps deployed at 38°. This caused the aircraft to be unstable on its longitudinal axis and to come uncontrollable. Various flight tests to determine the longitudinal stability and controllability characteristics during a flight in icing conditions had not been carried out.