PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-44958

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

1G26-01

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over a mountainous area, the single engine aircraft lost height and crashed in hilly terrain. Occupant's fate unknown.

Probable cause:

Los of control due to atmospheric turbulences and downdrafts.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Maykop

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-70076

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G136-02

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The fuel tank on which the engine was connected was empty.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Saratov: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1978 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-05706

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Balashov - Saratov

MSN:

1G153-19

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

SU481

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3208

Circumstances:

While descending to Saratov-Tsentralny Airport, the crew contacted ATC and was cleared to continue the approach. In poor visibility due to bad weather (low clouds and rain falls), the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 4,5 km west of the airport. Due to poor weather conditions, rescuers arrived on scene at 2200LT in the evening. The copilot and an illegal passenger were seriously injured while 14 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew continued the approach below weather minima and failed to see and avoid ground obstacles. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wrong decision on part of ATC at Saratov Airport as the crew should be diverted to another airport and not cleared for approach,
- Information transmitted to crew regarding weather conditions and forecast were inaccurate,
- Poor flight operations conception,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Wrong decisions ont part of ATC and pilots,
- Poor weather conditions (limited visibility, low clouds, rain).

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Kirensk

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-07608

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Site:

MSN:

1G156-48

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed following an engine failure. Occupant's faite unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P in Nizhnevartovsk

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-02457

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Nizhnevartovsk – Strezhevoy

MSN:

1G117-68

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Nizhnevartovsk Airport, the crew encountered control and stability problems. The pilot-in-command attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in flames in a swampy area near the airfield. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was not properly cleared of snow and ice prior to takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978 at 1821 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32599

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lanovtsy - Lanovtsy

MSN:

1G105-13

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8666

Aircraft flight cycles:

31855

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission near the village of Lanovtsy and completed several manoeuvre during all day. At the end of the afternoon, he informed ground that the mission was over and while completing a last circuit at low altitude, he lost control of the airplane that crashed on a small hill located 1,5 km southwest of Lanovtsy. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control at low level after the crew was distracted and failed to pay attention while flying at an altitude below that prescribed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Pskhu: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1978 at 0940 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-40553

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Pskhu - Sukhumi

MSN:

1G84-06

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

SU302G

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8782

Aircraft flight cycles:

11072

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed the grassy runway at Pskhu Airport at 0925LT on a regular schedule service to Sukhumi and the crew was cleared to climb to 2,100 meters. About 15 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,450 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Dzishra (2,623 meters high) located 6 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined by the fact that the aircraft was totally consumed by fire. Nevertheless, a high concentration of carbon monoxide was found in both pilots blood and it is believed it may be the consequence of smoke spreading in the cabin due to a fire in a hand luggage containing films or a possible electrical short-circuit. The assumption that the loss of control was also the consequence of an in-flight collision with a flock of birds that struck the windshield and injured both pilots was not ruled out.

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

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32515

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: