Crash of an Antonov AN-12B in Irkutsk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 2013 at 2101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
12162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Irkutsk
MSN:
3 3 415 09
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Novosibirsk-Yeltsovka Airport on a cargo flight to Irkutsk, carrying three mechanics, six crew members and a load consisting of 1,5 tons of spare parts for the Irkut Group (Sukhoi, Beriev) based in Irkutsk. On approach to Irkust-2 Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and limited visibility due to the night. On short final, the aircraft deviated to the right and descended too low until it impacted military vehicles and crashed onto several barracks of the 109th Arsenal of the Russian Army, coming to rest 770 metres short of runway 14 and about 90 metres to the right of its extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. There were no victims on the ground.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- The crew continued the descent below MDA without any visual contact with the ground, until the aircraft impacted obstacles and crashed,
- The flight manager was aware of the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination with a visibility that was below minimums, but failed to inform the crew accordingly,
- ATC at Irkutsk-2 Airport failed to inform the crew that he was deviating from the approach path on short final.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1996 at 1444 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-76752
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
00934 98967
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
7172
Aircraft flight cycles:
2085
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Novosibirsk to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, carrying 11 passengers, nine crew members and a load of 57 tons of meat and detergent powder. Upon takeoff from Novosibirsk-Yeltsovka Airport, the total weight of the aircraft was 17 tons above MTOW. While descending to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport in limited visibility due to low clouds, at an altitude of 900 metres, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens after it struck the slope of a mountain located about 40 km from runway 34R threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 300 metres below the summit.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Following a wrong setting of the navigation system, the crew failed to follow the approach procedures and was not on the correct track for the airport,
- ATC gave a premature clearance to the crew to descent while he was not aware of the exact position of the aircraft that was not yet on his radar,
- Lack of visibility due to low clouds,
- At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off course by 23 km.

Crash of an Antonov AN-8 in Novosibirsk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1990 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-69320
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscou - Novosibirsk
MSN:
0V3420
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
11726
Aircraft flight cycles:
5739
Circumstances:
On final approach to Novosibirsk-Yeltsovka Airport, at a height of 140 meters and at a speed of 260 km/h about 3 km from the runway threshold, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft lost height, struck power lines then collided with the embankment of a railway road and eventually crashed near a wooded area located 2,010 meters short of runway, bursting into flames. The captain was injured while nine other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the dual engine failure was the consequence of an error on part of one of the crew members who inadvertently switched off the electrical systems supplying both engines while trying to deactivate the anti-icing systems. The crew reaction was inappropriate since they took time to identify the failure and failed to feather both propellers. The combination of a late crew reaction with both propellers non feathered (the aircraft was not equipped with an automatic feathering system) increased drag and caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash.