Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Shushenskoye

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1997 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-87552
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norilsk – Podkamenaya Tunguska – Shushenskoye – Krasnoyarsk
MSN:
9 21 03 21
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
KI160
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Norilsk to Krasnoyarsk with intermediate stops in Podkamenaya Tunguska and Shushenskoye, carrying 23 passengers and 4 crew members on behalf of KrasAir (Krasnoyarskie Avialinii). While approaching Shushenskoye, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a visibility limited to 400 metres due to snow falls. In such conditions, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to locate the destination airport. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in the taiga about 18 km from the airport. All 27 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The crew lost his orientation in bad weather conditions following navigation error and false calculation regarding the wind component. The lack of ATC assistance was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Khanty-Mansiysk: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1996 at 2044 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-88257
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tyumen - Khanty-Mansiysk
MSN:
9 71 12 52
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
21765
Aircraft flight cycles:
16947
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Tyumen, the aircraft was approaching Khanty-Mansiysk Airport by night and poor weather conditions due to snow falls and a visibility limited to 5,300 metres with a cloud base at 400 metres. On final approach, the aircraft descended below the MDA when it landed at a speed of 190 km/h on an helipad located 159 metres to the left of the runway and 950 metres from its threshold. The aircraft collided with three parked helicopters and crashed. Both pilots, a third crew member and two passengers were killed. The aircraft as well as three helicopter registered RA-22313, RA-25144 and RA-25939 were destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew did not have sufficient information about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination,
- The crew decided to continue the approach in a visibility that was below minimums,
- The power of the ground light system located at the helipad was higher than the runway light system, in conditions of limited visibility, which caused a wrong perception of the crew.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Monrovia

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1996 at 1037 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87573
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Freetown - Monrovia
MSN:
9 22 05 22
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Freetown, the three engine aircraft encountered windshear on final approach to Monrovia, lost height and struck the ground 5 metres before the runway threshold (0.8-1 meter below the runway elevation). The left main gear was torn off and the aircraft slid/rolled for about 300 metres before coming to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on short final after the aircraft encountered windshear.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Aldan

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1996 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87423
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tynda - Aldan
MSN:
9 42 19 34
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Twenty-three minutes after takeoff from Tynda Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 5,700 metres, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine n°2 (central engine). Due to an excessive temperature of the turbine, the captain decided to shut this engine down (the engine n°2 is equipped with a thrust reverser system). While descending to Aldan Airport, the aircraft approached in a nose down attitude and struck the ground 90 metres short of runway threshold with a positive acceleration of 4 g. On impact, the nose gear collapsed, the aircraft bounced several times then slid for 800 metres before coming to rest on the runway. All 11 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew took the wrong decision to fly to Aldan Airport instead of the alternate,
- The approach was continued with excessive gap related to the approach speed and altitude,
- On final, the aircraft was in an excessive nose down attitude,
- The crew failed to identify and correct the wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Rostov-on-Don

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1995 at 1506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-87464
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Volgograd - Rostov-on-Don
MSN:
9 43 03 37
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Rostov-on-Don Airport, the three engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage, struck a concrete wall and came to rest 870 past the runway end. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Following a wrong manipulation, the flight engineer activated the thrust reversers on engine n°1 and n°3 but not on the engine n°2 that was providing full power. Such configuration reduced the braking action and the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the landing distance available.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Saposoa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1994 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
OB-1569
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trujillo – Saposoa – Juanjui – Tocache – Lima
MSN:
9 14 10 20
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
2079
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
11768
Captain / Total hours on type:
7791.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9190
Copilot / Total hours on type:
10
Circumstances:
On final approach to Saposoa Airport, at a distance of approximately 3 km from the airfield, the pilot-in-command lost visual contact with the ground due to adverse weather conditions. Despite the circumstances, the crew decided to continue the approach when, at an altitude of 50 feet, the visual contact was reestablished with the runway that was to the right of the airplane. The pilot-in-command (a student pilot) decided to initiate a go around procedure but in the same time, the instructor pilot took over the controls, reduced the engine power, made a turn to the right and landed the airplane about half down the runway. After touchdown, the crew started the braking procedure, but on a wet runway and with an insufficient remaining distance, the airplane failed to stop in time, overran and crashed into the Saposoa River. The instructor pilot and five passengers were killed while 24 other occupants were injured, some seriously. The airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
According to the analysis of the facts and the manifestations of the student pilot and the observer pilot, it is concluded that the instructor pilot decided to continue with the landing, in spite of the fact that the weather conditions were not adequate, and losing visual contact with the ground in the final approach, making visual contact at a very low altitude (50 feet), forcing the airplane to land, ignoring the suggestion of the other pilots to make a go around procedure and landing on the second third of the runway, which was wet due to the effects of the rain and did not allow an effective braking, so the airplane went off the runway, falling and sinking into the river.
The main cause of the accident was a pilot's personal error for not complying with visual flight rules and procedures.
Contributing factors were:
- Poor weather conditions in the area of the Saposoa Airport,
- Lack of coordination on part of the crew who failed to make a prior comment before landing procedure.
Final Report:

Ground explosion of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Makhachkala: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1994 at 0652 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-88254
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ashgabad - Makhachkala - Rostov-on-Don
MSN:
9710952
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
156
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On October 25, after takeoff from Makhachkala Airport, en route to Rostov, a hijacker entered the cockpit and ordered the crew to return to Makhachkala. He later requested a ransom of 2 millions US$ and asked to be flown to Iran. Within the next two day, all passengers were released and the hijacker remained in the airplane with both pilots. In the morning of October 27, while the hijacker fall asleep, both pilots left the airplane and the police stormed the aircraft. The hijacker was able to detonate a home made explosive device in the cockpit and was killed. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a home made explosive device.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Vanavara: 28 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1994 at 1738 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-87468
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Krasnoyarsk - Tura
MSN:
9 44 13 37
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Aircraft flight hours:
22203
Aircraft flight cycles:
17220
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Krasnoyarsk, the crew was approaching Tura Airport when he encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility upon arrival. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, the crew decided to initiate a go-around and followed a holding pattern. Two other approaches were abandoned during the following minutes. Eventually, the crew decided to divert to Vanavara Airport which is located 450 km southeast of Tura. Following a total flight time of 3 hours and 45 minutes, while descending to Vanavara Airport, all three engines stopped simultaneously. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a cleared area when the aircraft struck trees at a speed of 235 km/h. Out of control, it crashed on the shore of the Chamba river, coming to rest upside down. The wreckage was found 41 km north-northwest of Vanavara and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all three engine failed simultaneously due to a fuel exhaustion. Following a poor flight planning, the crew decided to chose Vanavara as the alternate airport (450 km from Tura) while the airport of Baykit was located 110 km from Tura and weather conditions were good at this time.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew incorrectly calculated the total amount of fuel necessary for the request flight and the alternate airport,
- The crew was unaware of the deterioration of the weather conditions in Tura after the ground personnel based at Tura Airport failed to conduct efficient observations and inform the crew accordingly,
- The deviation, allowed by crew during the first straight-in approach, which was caused, probably, by short-term de-energizing of the Outer Marker beacon and by incorrect determination by the crew of removal to VPP under these conditions,
- Failure of the crew to monitor the approach pattern parameters during the second and third approaches to Tura Airport in below minimums visibility,
- The crew started the descent to Vanavara Airport prematurely following a wrong flight altitude selection.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40D in Boma: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-87256
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kinshasa - Boma
MSN:
9 31 13 26
YOM:
1973
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
27402
Aircraft flight cycles:
22752
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed 45 metres past the runway 21 threshold at Boma Airfield (runway 21 is 1,082 metres long). The crew started the braking procedure and both engines n°1 & 3 were shut down after a course of about 400-500 metres. At a distance of 200 metres from the runway end, the captain elected to veer to the right to avoid an overrun when the aircraft went down an embankment and came to rest in a 8 metres deep ravine, bursting into flames. Four people were injured and five others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed at an excessive speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor efficient braking,
- The aircraft speed upon landing was exceeding the aircraft flight manual,
- Uncoordinated actions of the crew on the application of the main and emergency braking that were used simultaneously which is non compliant with published procedures,
- Erroneous shutdown of the central engine (n°2) during the first half of run.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 on Mt Carpish: 31 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1559
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Juanjui – Tocache – Tingo María – Lima
MSN:
9 64 09 50
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
OD028
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
Six minutes after takeoff from Tingo María Airport, while flying in clouds at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Carpish located about 45 km southwest of Tingo María Airport. The wreckage was found in an isolated area on March 5 only. All 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.