Balashov | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a local training mission at Balashov Airport, in the region of Saratov. Following several touch-and-go manoeuvres, the crew initiated a new approach. On final, the airplane descended below the MDA and, at a speed of 240 km/h, rolled to the right to an angle of 24°, stalled and crashed in a field located 1,100 metres from the airfield, bursting into flames. Five occupants were injures while a pilot under supervision was killed. The airplane had the dual registration RF-36160 and 79 red.
Crew:
Cpt Y. Tereshin,
Maj S. Rodionov,
Ens Frolov,
P. Halaimov,
I. Makhmoudov,
M. Artemiev. †

Probable cause:

It was determined that during the approach, the instructor led the aircraft descending below MDA when he simulated an engine failure and positioned both power levers to idle. As a result of the failure of the propeller feathering system, the right engine stopped. After 14 seconds, the instructor mistakenly shut down the left engine that was running properly, causing the aircraft to lose speed, to stall and to crash.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Balashov: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Petrovsk – Balashov

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Petrovsk Airport on a training flight to Balashov. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling and strong headwinds. The crew decided not to land and initiated a go-around procedure. At a speed of 250 km/h, the aircraft climbed to a height of 200-250 meters when it stalled and crashed near the runway, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the crew attempted a turn to avoid a flock of birds was not ruled out.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Balashov: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1943 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3982

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Balashov – Kursk

MSN:

184 19 10

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1770

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Balashov to Kursk, carrying a load of three M-105 engines. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 50 meters, the aircraft stalled. It descended to a height of 10 meters, climbed again to about 30 meters then stalled and crashed in flames in an open field located 7 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that one of the M-105 engine was inadequately restrained. After liftoff, the secure system broke off, causing the engine to brake through the cabin floor, trapping the elevator cable. In such conditions, the crew was unable to maintain a safe control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed. Incorrect restraining methods on part of the ground personnel and the failure of the crew to supervise the loading and the installation of the M-105 engines on board were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Sukhotinka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1936 at 1235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh869

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Tambov - Balashov

MSN:

7986

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

585

Aircraft flight cycles:

2120

Circumstances:

The single enginer airplane departed Tambov on a training flight to Balashov with one instructor and one student pilot on board. About 15-20 minutes into the flight, while flying over the village of Sukhotinka, the airplane was following a road at low height when it entered clouds. Shortly later, it rolled to the left, descended to the ground and crashed. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The student pilot was not authorized to fly in clouds,
- The student pilot training was insufficient,
- The instructor was overconfident.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Ivanovka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh913

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Balashov - Saratov

MSN:

9070

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

204

Circumstances:

The crew consisting of two cadets departed Balashov Airport on a training flight to Saratov. Prior to takeoff at 0900LT, the crew was instructed not to enter clouds and not flying below the minimum altitude of 300 metres. After takeoff from Balashov Airport, bound for the south, the aircraft entered clouds. The pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near the village of Ivanovka, some 20 km south of the Balashov Airport. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a loss of control while flying in clouds. The pilot, a cadet, was inexperienced in such flight conditions. Poor flight preparation and supervision.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 in Balashov

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1933 at 1245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov P-5

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh629

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Balashov - Balashov

MSN:

5409

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

224

Aircraft flight cycles:

1228

Circumstances:

The crew (one cadet and one instructor) departed Balashov Airport at 1240LT on a local training mission. After takeoff, the crew completed two turns then climbed to the altitude of 350 metres and eventually entered clouds. About five minutes after its departure, the aircraft started to descend and reached the speed of 160 km/h. The instructor attempted to regain control but the airplane impacted ground and crashed, coming to rest upside down 4 km south of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilots lost visual contact with the ground after entering the clouds;
- The crew made a decision to reduce altitude and attempt to establish visual contact with the ground rather than continuing under Instrument Flight Rules;
- The crew failed to follow instructions not entering the clouds;
- The crew confusion;
- Insufficient crew training in blind conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh480

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Balashov - Balashov

MSN:

2773

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

348

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. On approach, at an altitude of about 250 metres, it collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh90, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board and just took off. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.

Probable cause:

The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT

Type of aircraft:

Polikarpov Po-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-Sh90

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Balashov - Balashov

MSN:

3853

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

118

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. After takeoff, the pilot made a left turn then climbed to the altitude of about 250 metres when the aircraft collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh480, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.

Probable cause:

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