Country
Russia

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

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1941 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3387
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Omsk – Petropavlovsk
MSN:
281
YOM:
1940
Location:
Petropavlovsk
North Kazakhstan
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Omsk Airport at 1445LT on a cargo flight to Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, carrying one pilot and a load of 346 kg of various goods. On final approach to Petropavlovsk Airport, the airplane descended too low to the right (about 30-40 metres) and the pilot initiated a turn to the left when he lost control of the airplane that crashed 950 metres from the 'T'. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be above 10 km with light snow.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred during a steep turn caused by poor piloting techniques.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Samarovo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1941 at 1142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3374
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tyumen - Samarovo
MSN:
268
YOM:
1940
Location:
Khanty-Mansiysk
Khantia-Mansia okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
130
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tyumen-Plekhanovo Airport on a schedule service to Samarovo (now Khanty-Mansiysk), carrying one pilot and six passengers, four adults and two children. Approaching Samarovo, weather conditions deteriorated with snow falls reducing the visibility below one km. The pilot overflew Samarovo without any visual contact and continued until weather conditions improved. At this time, the pilot decided to return to Samarovo despite the fact that the weather was still bad. Approaching from the north, he attempted to land in a pasture when he lost control of the airplane that crashed 15 km north of Samarovo. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot deliberately decided to return to Samarovo for landing despite poor weather conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The weather bulletin transmitted to the pilot was expired and did reflect the actual weather conditions at destination,
- Absence of control points on the route Tobolsk - Samarovo,
- The pilot's lack of experience and training in instrument flights.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Suslovo

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-F
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Omsk - Ulan-Ude
Location:
Suslovo
Kemerovo oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed the factory in Omsk to deliver the airplane in Ulan-Ude. En route, the engine failed and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a prairie located in Suslovo. The pilot was unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Ukhta

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ust-Tsylma - Ukhta
MSN:
264
YOM:
1940
Location:
Ukhta
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ust-Tsylma on a flight to Ukhta, carrying four passengers and a pilot who were in charge to collect election materials. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed 40 km north of Ukhta, coming to rest broken in two. All five occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Leshukonskoye

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2569
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ust-Tsylma - Leshukonskoye
MSN:
176
YOM:
1938
Location:
Leshukonskoye
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was approaching Leshukonskoye on a flight from Ust-Tsylma when it crashed in unknown circumstances 18 km north of Leshukonskoye. All five occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2162
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Leninabad
MSN:
106
YOM:
1937
Location:
Leninabad
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At 0700LT, the pilot was cleared for takeoff from Stalinabad on a mail flight to Leninabad despite weather conditions at destination were poor due to thunderstorm activity. On approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field and was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was inexperienced and this was his first solo flight. Failure of the Authority at Stalinabad Airport who allowed the pilot to take off despite poor weather conditions at destination and his lack of experience.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Mozdok

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2519
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Grozny – Mineralnye Vody
MSN:
166
YOM:
1938
Location:
Mozdok
Republic of North Ossetia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a cargo flight from Grozny to Mineralnye Vody. After takeoff, the pilot realized that the mountains were shrouded in clouds so he modified his route and flew to Gudermes and Mozdok. Approaching Mozdok, he encountered low clouds and decided to return when the airplane collided with a meteo antenna and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Violation of the published procedures on part of the pilot,
- The pilot modified his route,
- The decision of the pilot to return was taken too late.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Boysun: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938 at 1025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Voroshilovneft
Registration:
CCCP-I87
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Samarkand – Boysun – Termez
MSN:
120
YOM:
1937
Location:
Boysun
Surxondaryo Province (Surxondaryo viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
334
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Samarkand on a flight to Termez with two passengers and two pilots on board. While cruising south of Boysun, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. At an altitude of 900 metres, the airplane impacted the west slope of a mountain and crashed 20 km south of Boysun. The mechanic was slightly injured and walked away to find help. Rescuers arrived on site three days later, on December 23. A passenger died 13 hours after the accident and two other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew took the decision to perform the flight despite the visibility was below published minimums. The pressure from both passengers to perform the flight was considered as a contributing factor, as well as negligence on part of the crew.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Ajikabul

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2171
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Baku - Yevlakh
MSN:
115
YOM:
1937
Location:
Ajikabul
Daghlig Shirvan
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Baku to Yevlakh, while cruising at an altitude of 400 metres, the pilot encountered fog and climbed to 1,200 metres when he encountered icing conditions. He elected to return to Baku and reduced his altitude when the airplane impacted a hill near Ajikabul. The pilot was injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to initiate a flight in a visibility that was below the published minimums. The lack of ground visual references was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Krasnoborsk

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2180
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kotlas – Arkhangelsk
MSN:
125
YOM:
1937
Location:
Krasnoborsk
Arkhangelsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kotlas, at a distance of 40 km from his departure point, the pilot entered an area of thunderstorm activity. Rather than to return, he decided to continue when lightning stroke around him. Afraid and disoriented, the pilot cut off the contact and elected to make an emergency landing but finally decided to continue. As the contact was off, the magneto was not functioning so the engine failed to respond. The airplane crash landed in a field and collided with trees. Both occupants were uninjured.
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