Minsk | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The three engine airplane departed Warsaw on a flight to Minsk, carrying three passengers and four crew members. While approaching the destination, it crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all seven occupants.
Crew:
Fw Fritz Eisenlohr, pilot,
Fw Erwin Kemmler, radio operator,
Uffz Alfred Ernst, mechanic,
Obgfr Otto Wesse, air gunner.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-7 2M-17 in Minsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1941 at 1040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T435

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Minsk - Minsk

MSN:

22123

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

13.00

Aircraft flight hours:

432

Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a local training flight at Minsk Airport. Following several circuits in the vicinity of the airfield, he initiated the approach. Not properly aligned with the runway, the pilot decided to make a go around. At a height of about 50 metres, the airplane continued for about 300 metres then lost height, rolled to the left and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and died seven hours later.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot failed to position the stabilizers in a correct position for landing (negative instead positive angle). He was not familiarized with the aircraft and his experience on type was insufficient with 13,8 hours of flight. It was also reported that the instructor released the pilot too early for a solo flight.