Country
Russia

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 at Lodeynoye Pole AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1944 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3385
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leningrad – Lodeynoye Pole AFB
MSN:
279
YOM:
1940
Location:
Lodeynoye Pole AFB
Leningrad oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3817
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lodeynoye Pole AFB, the pilot was completing a last turn to join the T when the airplane rolled to the right and descended to the ground, crashing in a wooded area near the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the failure of the rear stabilizer mounting at the vertical stabilizer strut, resulting in the failure and displacement of the horizontal tailplane, followed by the failure of the lower left reinforcement straps and the front stabilizer mounting bolts at the safety hoop. This failure caused the aircraft to nose down at low altitude. The fin broke due to the high stresses exerted on it after all its fasteners had failed. This structural failure was the result of inadequate maintenance of the airplane, which was cleared for flight even though the stabilizer fasteners were in poor condition and had undoubtedly been cracked for some time.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The mechanic responsible for inspecting the aircraft failed to detect cracks in the stabilizer mounting.
- The maintenance manager failed to supervise the work performed by the mechanic responsible for inspecting the aircraft.
- Lack of supervision by various parties involved in the maintenance procedures.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Tabriz: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1943 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2492
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tabriz - Tabriz
MSN:
138
YOM:
1938
Location:
Tabriz
East Azerbaijan
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
2774
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Yerevan Airport at 0615LT to deliver various goods to the Soviet troops based in Iran. After the airplane landed at Tabriz Airport at 0745LT, four Soviet personnel came to the pilot and asked for a local ride. The airplane took off at 0755LT and the pilot completed several circuits around the airfield. While cruising at a height of 450 metres, the pilot entered a steep climb and nosed up to 45°, causing the airplane to stall and to crash in a field 3 km from the airport. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The immediate cause of the accident was a pilot error that led to a loss of speed during a sharp nose-up maneuver, which caused a severe spin at an altitude too low to allow the pilot to regain control of the aircraft. Investigators concluded that the pilot demonstrated a lack of discipline by allowing four military personnel to board an unauthorized flight, a violation he had already committed eight days prior to the accident.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Troekurovo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2571
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
178
YOM:
1938
Location:
Troekurovo
Ryazan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
2545
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed a position behind the enemy lines to return to base. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a cloud layer at 600 metres. For unknown reasons, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 4 km from the village of Troekurovo. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Pronsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1942 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3327
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ryazan - Nikolayevsk
Location:
Pronsk
Ryazan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2009
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ryazan at 1000LT on a flight to Nikolayevsk, carrying four army officers from the 7th regiment and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated with limited visibility due to snow falls. To maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot descended to a height of 25-30 metres but realized he could not make it. He decided to return to Ryazan and initiated a left turn when the left wing struck the ground, causing the airplane to crashed about 500 metres north of Pronsk. A passenger was injured while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- A quick deterioration of the weather conditions,
- An incorrect weather forecast,
- An error of the pilot who made a turn at low altitude in a steep bank angle in gusty winds and poor visibility.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Stalingrad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3388
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
282
YOM:
1940
Location:
Stalingrad
Volgograd oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Stalingrad, killing the pilot, sole on board.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Russia

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3362
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
251
YOM:
1940
Location:
Russia
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Russia. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion apparently caused after switch from the upper fuel tank to the lower fuel tank.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Yelets: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3339
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Yelets
MSN:
226
YOM:
1940
Location:
Yelets
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on a flight from Moscow-Myachkovo and Yelets. Lost without trace.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Uka: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3355
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ust-Bolsheretsk – Ust-Kamchatsk – Tilichiki
MSN:
243
YOM:
1940
Location:
Uka
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
347
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ust-Bolsheretsk on a flight to Tilichiki, carrying three crew members and two people from the Soviet Communist Party. After a flight of two hours and 30 minutes, the airplane landed in Ust-Kamchatsk where the crew passed the overnight. At the airport, the crew consumed alcohol and failed to sleep enough time. The next day, on March 12, the airplane took off at noon for Tilichiki despite the pilot was not fit. At 1241LT, the radio operator informed ground that he passed Ozernaya at an altitude of 1,500 metres. Half an hour later, while cruising in good weather conditions, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the taiga about 22 km north of the village of Uka. The wreckage was found the next day and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot may fall asleep or lost consciousness during flight, probably due to a lack of sleep and/or intoxication.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Kabul

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1942 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2495
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
136
YOM:
1938
Location:
Kabul
Kabul
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kabul Airport at night, the airplane crashed in a snow cover field and was destroyed. Both occupants were injured and the diplomatic mail was damaged.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Odudi Pass: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3316
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stalinabad - Khorugh
MSN:
203
YOM:
1939
Location:
Odudi Pass
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalinabad on a flight to Khorugh, carrying six passengers (four adults and two children) and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor. Despite the situation, the pilot decided to continue. Flying in clouds, the airplane struck a rock and crashed in deep snow at an altitude of 3,900 metres near the Odudi Pass. All seven occupants survived the accident with minor injuries but without any food and in extreme conditions with very low outside temperature. Twelve days after the accident, the pilot and three passengers tried to find help and left the crash site. During this trip, a passenger died of cold. On May 12, an expedition was sent to the crash site and found a woman and her two children aged one and nine died of cold and hunger.
Probable cause:
The following factors were determined:
- The weather briefing transmitted to the pilot prior to the flight did not reflect the truth and reported good weather conditions all along the route from Stalinabad to Khorugh,
- The pilot decided to continue the flight despite the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions and failed to return to his departure point.
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