Turkmenistan

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1G138-30

YOM:

1972

Location:

Tashauz

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1029

Aircraft flight cycles:

3275

Circumstances:

During a crop-spraying flight for the sovkhoz (state farm) "40 let Turkmenskoi SSR" in the region of Tashauz, the single engine airplane collided at a height of 4 metres with a telephone pole located near the villages of Kommunizm and Udarnik (north-west of Tashauz) while flying against the low morning sun. The airplane crashed 120 metres further on, came to rest upside down, caught fire and burnt out. The captain was seriously injured while the copilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to sea and avoid the telegraph pole while flying against the sun.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Tedzhen

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1971

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-25588

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Ahal Province (Ahal welaýaty)

MSN:

1G61-14

YOM:

1965

Location:

Tezhen

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of speed after rotation for unknown reason.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Mary

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46552

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Mary Province (Mary welaýaty)

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mary – Ashgabat

MSN:

87304506

YOM:

1968

Location:

Mary

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Mary Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 meters, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for a safe landing. While descending to Mary, the crew realize he could not reach the airport so he attempted a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Darvaza: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1965 at 0957 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-64842

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tashauz – Darvaza – Ashgabat

MSN:

64 01

YOM:

1949

Flight number:

SU112

Location:

Darvaza

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8758

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Darvaza Airport in excellent weather conditions, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left to an angle of 30°, nosed down and crashed in flames in a desert area located 4 km from the runway end, about 600 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that both engines stopped during initial climb as the fuel selector was positioned on the front right fuel tank which was empty at the time of the accident. Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Ashgabat: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1963 at 1934 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ilyushin II-18

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-75765

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Krasnovodsk – Ashgabat

MSN:

181 0034 04

YOM:

Flight number:

SU191

Location:

Ashgabat

Ashgabat City District

Country:

Region:

Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2098

Aircraft flight cycles:

1213

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Krasnovodsk Airport at 1804LT and shortly after takeoff, the crew was informed about weather conditions at destination with a sand storm and a visibility limited to 1,000 meters. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters, weather conditions worsened and the crew obtained the permission to modify his route. At a distance of 25 km from Ashgabat, the crew started the descent and reached the altitude of 400 meters when he reported the runway lights in sight. Shortly later, the airplane became unstable and lost height. It banked left to an angle of 7°, struck power cables and a concrete post. Out of control, it banked left to an angle of 30°, stalled and crashed in flames 1,012 meters short of runway threshold. Eight crew members and four passengers were killed while 42 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the crew who continued the approach in below minima weather conditions. Errors on part of ATC were also reported as they cleared the crew to land in below minima weather conditions and failed to divert the crew to another airport. It was also determined that the information transmitted to the crew relating to weather conditions at destination did not reflect the truth, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Karaul-Kuyu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1962 at 0904 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-07968

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chardzhou – Mary

MSN:

1 47 473 02

YOM:

Location:

Karaul-Kuyu

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3300

Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a cargo flight from Chardzhou to Mary, carrying 40 bottles of sulfuric acid for a total of 1,200 kg. 18 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters, smoke spread in the cabin and a fire erupted. The copilot elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck a small dune and crashed in flames near Karaul-Kuyu, south of Chardzhou. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were seriously injured (burned). Two days later, the copilot died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

The accident resulted from the ignition of the sulfuric acid in flight. Investigations stated that the cargo was not properly packaged and that the flight was not dispatched according to the procedures in force referring to dangerous goods transportation.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashauz

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1946 at 1605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4278

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Tashauz

MSN:

184 229 07

YOM:

Location:

Tashauz

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

869

Circumstances:

During the last segment, while at a height of 10 meters, the crew reduced power on both engines when a fire erupted on the left wing. The pilot in command completed the landing and after touchdown, made an emergency brake procedure. When the aircraft came to a halt, all 16 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were unhurt. The aircraft burnt for about 12-14 minutes and was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the person in charge to refuel the aircraft in Ashgabat Airport failed to properly close the left fuel tank cap. This was possible because the fuel filter was not correctly set in the fuel line. This led fuel to leak in flight and on approach, the fuel spilled along the wing root, over the wing and eventually caught fire while in contact with high temperature elements of the left engine.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Darvaza: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1946 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L35

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Darvaza

MSN:

6445

YOM:

Location:

Darvaza

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3536

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Ashgabat to Darvaza, carrying a load of various goods for a total weight of 2,400 kilos. On final approach to Darvaza Airport, the aircraft adopted a high nose attitude and then stalled before crashing in a desert area located one km short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the left elevator failed on final approach due to the failure of several bolts located on the inner part of the elevator. This was the result of a faulty maintenance on the part of the technicians of the company. Wrong reaction on part of the crew was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Chardzhou

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1945 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L41

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)

Schedule:

Ashgabat – Chardzhou – Alma Ata

MSN:

5457

YOM:

Location:

Chardzhou

Country:

Region: