Crash of an Antonov AN-26B-100 in Palana: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 2021 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-26085
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – Palana
MSN:
123 10
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
PTK251
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Captain / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1253
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1091
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport at 1257LT on a schedule service (flight PTK251) to Palana, carrying 22 passengers and a crew of six, among them Olga Mokhiriova, chief of the municipality of Palana. At 1439LT, the crew contacted Palana ATC and was cleared to start the descent at 1450LT. While completing an NDB approach to runway 29, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with fog and ceiling at 300 metres. Too low, the aircraft impacted terrain about 4 km northwest of the airport. The wreckage was found in the evening on the top of a rocky wall. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris fall down on the sea bank. All 28 occupants were killed.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Palana: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 2012 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-28715
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Palana
MSN:
1AJ006-25
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
PTK251
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
8955
Captain / Total hours on type:
7732.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6543
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6347
Aircraft flight hours:
11947
Aircraft flight cycles:
8891
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the crew started the descent to Palana Airport Runway 11 from the south. In marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft descended too low, impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Pyatibratka. The wreckage was found at a height of 216 meters some 10 km south of the airport. Both pilots and 8 passengers were killed while four other passengers were seriously injured. Thea aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
The fatal accident with An-28 RA-28715 aircraft was caused by violation of specified approach pattern in Palan Airport resulted in outbound track and premature descending up to unauthorized low altitude performing flight in mountainous terrain in weather conditions excluding sustained visual reference with ground references resulted in aircraft collision with mountain slope, its destruction and crew and passengers fatality. Alcohol was detected in blood of both crew members.
Contributing factors were:
- Low level of discipline of personnel in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Air Enterprise and inadequate flight methodical work in enterprises in a part of crew preflight training and approach patterns monitoring.
- Crew inaction when the radio altimeter altitude alert was actuated.
- Ground Proximity Warning System at An-28 aircraft could probably prevent the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40K in Ust-Kamchatsk

Date & Time: Apr 16, 2011 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-88241
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ust-Kamchatsk - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
9641351
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
PTK123
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft was performing flight PTK123 from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Ossora. En route, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions at destination and decided to divert to the Ust-Kamchatsk Airport. Crew and passengers wait there few hours moments for weather improvement but eventually decided to return to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 01/19 is 1,725 metres long), the aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and rolled for dozen metres before coming to rest in about 50 centimeters of snow. All 26 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76TD in Novaya Inya: 18 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 2001
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-76839
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow – Bratsk – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
10234 11375
YOM:
1992
Flight number:
9064
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Moscow on a cargo flight to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with an intermediate stop in Bratsk, carrying nine passengers, nine crew members and a load of 36 tons of cargo including one aircraft engine and constructions materials. While cruising at an altitude of 9,600 metres, the crew declared an emergency and informed ATC about an in-flight fire. The crew initiated an emergency descent when, at an altitude of 7,000 metres, the aircraft broke into three and crashed in a wooded area located in Novaya Inya. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Tigil

Date & Time: Sep 19, 2000
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-28950
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tigil – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
1AJ009-16
YOM:
1991
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from a waterlogged and unpaved runway in Tigil, the crew decided to abort as the aircraft was unable to reach a sufficient speed. Despite the situation, the crew attempted a second takeoff manoeuvre during which control was lost. The aircraft deviated to the left, veered off runway and struck an embankment before coming to rest in a ditch. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76MD in Abakan: 23 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1996 at 2354 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-78804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Moscow – Abakan – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
00934 92778
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Moscow-Zhukovsky Airport to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with an intermediate stop in Abakan, carrying 13 passengers, 10 crew members and a load of 30 tons of various goods. Following a night takeoff, the aircraft climbed to a height of 200 metres then encountered difficulties to climb anymore. According to published procedures, the pilot-in-command was supposed to initiate a turn after a course of 4 km but he continued a straight-in route until the aircraft struck the slope of a snow covered mountain located 13,4 km from the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the manifest was not reflecting the truth as it was mentioned a total weight of 30 tons, an incorrect value. Because the total weight was substantially above the MTOW, the climb gradient was insufficient, resulting in a collision with a mountain that the crew was unable to locate due to the low visibility caused by night. It was also reported that the crew failed to follow the published departure procedures.

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-26B in Ossora: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
RA-26084
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Ossora
MSN:
11806
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport on a cargo flight to Ossora, carrying 3 passengers, 7 crew members and a load of 4,8 tons of food. On approach to Ossora Airport, the completed a last turn in limited visibility when the aircraft descended too low till 300 metres. The GPWS alarm sounded and the captain elected to gain height when the aircraft struck the slope of a hill (376 metres high) located 8 km short of runway. One passenger was seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed. The aircraft disintegrated on impact.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- The crew failed to comply with approach published procedures,
- The crew descended below the prescribed minimum altitude above hilly terrain without radar control,
- The aircraft was out of the approach pattern,
- The crew failed to take corrective actions to maintain the airplane in the correct pattern and correct approach configuration,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 810 kilos above MTOW.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-28 in Palana

Date & Time: May 12, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA-28713
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Palana
MSN:
1AJ006-23
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach and landing at Palana Airport were completed in strong crosswinds. The twin engine aircraft landed hard and was apparently damaged beyond repair due to structural damages. All 12 occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP in Bajkovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-67130
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Bajkovo
MSN:
80 03 26
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Bajkovo Airfield under VFR mode, the crew encountered poor visibility with local fog banks. At an altitude of about 300 metres, while flying in fog, the twin engine aircraft struck a hill and crashed 5 km from the airstrip. A propeller detached and penetrated the fuselage, killing one passenger. All other occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach under VFR mode in below minima weather conditions. It was also reported that the aircraft departed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport with a total weight of 262 kilos above MTOW.