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Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Cape Shelagsky: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1959 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04242
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Nizhniye Kresty – Pevek
MSN:
184 399 09
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On a flight from Nizhniye Kresty (now Cherski) to Pevek on a survey flight of the icy continent, the copilot decided to cut the route short when the captain was in the passenger cabin and overflew Cape Shelagski (469 meters). On approach to the cape, the aircraft was caught by strong downdraft and eventually struck the hill with the lower fuselage, was thrown up into the air again and eventually crashed into a large boulder and caught fire. Three crew members were rescued while seven others occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong decision on part of the copilot who decided to modify the route without referring to the captain and against all published procedures.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Severny Island

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04209
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
184 308 08
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on a 750 meters long icy runway, while at a speed of 70-80 km/h, the left ski struck an irregularity on the ground. The airplane bounced, climbed to a height of 1,5-2 meters then stalled and crashed 300 meters farther. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who attempted to takeoff at an insufficient speed. The captain should abandon the takeoff procedure instead to continue in such conditions. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The braking performance was reduced due to the high salting of the ground,
- The 'runway' surface was uneven.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Ust-Kara

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N492
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amderma – Ust-Kara
MSN:
184 299 08
YOM:
1948
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2158
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an ambulance flight from Amderma to Ust-Kara to pick up a patient back to Amderma. After decending successively to 600 meters and 300 meters in marginal weather conditions (limited visibility to 4 km in rain and snow, low clouds), the pilot decided to continue the descent despite he could not clearly locate the runway. On short final, the airplane struck the snowy ground and plunged in a deep snow layer (60 cm), slid for several yards and came to rest 250 meters short of runway threshold. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain who decided to continue the descent without clear visual contact with the runway.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Khatanga: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1958 at 2153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-04196
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Pevek – Mys Kosistyy – Khatanga – Moscow
MSN:
14700 13 16
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
SU003
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On the leg from Mys Kosistyy to Khatanga of a flight from Pevek to Moscow during the polar night, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the left by 38 km. The crew descended prematurely and the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill (340 metres high) located about 65 km from the Khatanga Airport. It came to rest upside down after some 400 metres and caught fire. The rescue teams arrived on the scene a day later, on December 31. A passenger was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of navigation errors on part of the flying crew, which caused the aircraft to deviate from the prescribed flight plan by 38 km to the left. The captain started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to struck a hill while flying in limited visibility (8 km) due to the night, clouds and snow falls. The decision of the operations to change the navigator at the last minute may have been a contributing factor due to a possible inoperability between the captain and the navigator. Finally, shortcomings were reported in the polar operations and flight organisation.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Igarka: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1958 at 1107 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1 22 473 10
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Igarka, killing all three crew members.

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.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12P at SP-7 Polar Station: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1957 at 0045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N442
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mys Chelyuskin - SP-7
MSN:
30 060
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Mys Chelyuskin to SP-7 (which drifted around N87°) when flew too low on final approach in difficult weather conditions (low clouds and poor visibility). During the polar night, the left wing collided with ice hummocks some 3 km from the runway threshold and the aircraft crashed. All six crew were injured and rescued by a Mil Mi-4 some 21 hours later. One of the crew member died from his injuries five days later.
Crew:
Vladimir Malkov, pilot,
A. A. Lebedev, pilot,
Valentin A. Kolosov, mechanic,
S. P. Jars, mechanic,
Nikolaï Pischke, flight engineer,
Gennady M. Nevyantsev, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The approach to SP-7 Station was completed under VFR by night and marginal weather conditions. It was possible for the crew to postpone the flight but the captain decided to conduct the flight despite the weather conditions.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Chukotka

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-N567
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
1 09 473 04
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a geophysical mission in the Chukotka okrug. While approaching a mountainous area, the airplane was too low and the pilot elected to gain height. In a steep angle, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a rocky terrain. All occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Lack of experience on part of the pilot-in-command on that kind of mission. Also, the flight was not prepared according to procedures in place.