Crash of an Antonov AN-12 in Amderma: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1991 at 1624 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-12
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ostafyevo AFB - Ryazan - Vorkuta - Tiksi
Location:
Amderma
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Ostafyevo AFB on a flight to Tiksi with intermediate stops in Ryazan and Vorkuta, carrying 15 passengers, seven crew members and a load of 6 tons of plumbing and communication equipments. En route from Ryazan to Vorkuta, the crew was diverted to Amderma due to poor weather conditions. But on approach to Amderma, the crew also encountered poor weather conditions and initiated the descent prematurely. On final, the aircraft struck an ammunition depot and crashed in a snow covered field located 1,500 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. Two passengers were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was approaching Amderma Airport at an insufficient altitude after the crew initiated the descent prematurely. It was reported that the ILS system was unserviceable at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Poplevino: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-I172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Myachkovo – Diaghilevo – Riazhsk – Michurinsk – Tambov – Buturlinovka – Ilovlinskaya – Leninsk – Kotelnikovo
MSN:
9227
YOM:
1934
Location:
Poplevino
Ryazan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
2633
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Myachkovo Airport on a cargo flight to Kotelnikovo, carrying one passengers, two crew members and a load consisting of an engine and various instruments for a total weight of 273 kilos. On the leg from Ryazan (Diaghilevo) and Riazhsk, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thick fog. In limited visibility, the pilot reduced his altitude when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed near the village of Poplevino. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who violated the Flight Service Manual and failed to follow the squadron commander's orders. Having encountered fog on the Ryazan - Riazhsk route, the pilot failed to return to Myachkovo or Diaghilevo, as did four other pilots who had taken off at the same time on a similar routing, and continued the flight into the fog at low altitude, resulting in a collision with the ground. An indirect cause of the accident was an incorrect weather forecast (lack of fog data) due to the slow transmission of a storm warning from Riazhsk to Moscow and Myachkovo, received only at 1010LT, with a delay of 2 hours and 25 minutes after the fog formed and 1 hour 30 minutes after takeoff, due to a transmission delay by the communications (telegraph) service, despite a special instruction on the priority transmission of storm warning telegrams.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5L near Ryazan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Ryazan - Saratov - Kamichyne - Jitkur
MSN:
9078
YOM:
1934
Location:
Ryazan
Ryazan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow on a special flight to Zhitkur (130 km east northeast of Stalingrad) with intermediate stops in Ryazan, Saratov and Kamichyne. On board were two crew members and one passenger who was in charge of a precious load owned by the Soviet Government. Approaching Ryazan, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog and icing. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a snow covered area located near the Dyagilevo Station. The wreckage was found on 4 January 1943. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was about 50 metres in fog.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by:
- A sudden deterioration of the weather conditions, which was not predicted by weather forecast (fog, visibility reduced to 50 metres and icing).
- The airplane got iced, which reduced its aerodynamic properties, causing it to stall and crash.
- The pilot failed to return to Moscow when the weather conditions worsened. The instruction to return in case of bad weather was recorded in his weather form.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5L in Ryazan

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ryazan - Ryazan
MSN:
7938
YOM:
1934
Location:
Ryazan
Ryazan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Ryazan Airport. While flying in clouds, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. Both crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of poo piloting techniques and a distraction from navigation instruments during a short flight in clouds. Loss of situational awareness and probable spatial disorientation.
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