Saratov

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1G103-02

YOM:

1969

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in an unsuitable terrain near Saratov. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avia 14P in Penza: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1960 at 2158 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52025

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Leningrad – Penza – Saratov

MSN:

051 704 114

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4382

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Leningrad to Saratov with an intermediate stop at Penza, carrying a load of refrigerator spare parts. After takeoff from Penza Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane banked left to 40° then stalled and crashed in flames in a field located 2 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control during initial climb was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on both engines and propeller blades. Due to a poor flight preparation and a wrong interpretation of the weather conditions, the captain decided to takeoff in freezing rain. The assumption that all speed indicators, altimeters and variometers were unserviceable at the time of the accident was not ruled out. Also, both engines did not run at impact.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Saratov: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1945 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L866

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kuybyshev – Saratov

MSN:

12601

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Aircraft flight hours:

1056

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Kuybyshev to Saratov-Razboyshchina Airport with a load of various goods for a total weight of 2,089 kilos. On approach to Saratov, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a visibility limited to 800 metres due to fog. Despite below minima conditions, the captain decided to continue the approach and completed a last turn to join the glide when the aircraft stalled and crashed about 5 km from the airport, on the slope of the Korolyov Sad ravine, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the crew who decided to continue the approach in below minima conditions and failed to return to Kuybyshev for a safe landing. Poor flight organisation by the operations and inadequate information transmitted to the crew concerning the weather forecast which did not reflect the actual conditions.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-196 in Saratov: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1943 at 1615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

URSS-B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41/SB 2)

Schedule:

Baku – Astrakhan – Saratov – Moscow

MSN:

2035

YOM:

1943

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Circumstances:

The crew decided to take off in the direction of rising ground as there was some side wind in the normal takeoff direction. The aircraft lifted off close to the end of the runway, made a turn at low height and low speed in order to come clear of the hill ahead, stalled, came down and collided with an earth wall. The copilot was killed while all 19 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Wrong decision on part of the crew who decided to takeoff from the wrong runway considering the wind direction (11 km/h cross wind). The reaction of the copilot during the initial climb was erroneous and the supervision of the captain was inappropriate.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Novye Burasy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3536

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow - Saratov - Tbilisi

MSN:

9/215

YOM:

1939

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1032

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Moscow on a cargo flight to Tbilisi with an intermediate stop in Saratov, carrying three crew members and a load of 545 kilos of spare parts destined to the airplanes of the 8th Civil Fleet based in Tbilisi. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to sudden fog. At a very low height (5-10 metres), the pilot decided to return and initiated a left turn without gaining altitude, causing the airplane to struck the ground and to crash in a 70 cm snow covered field. All three crew members were seriously injured. The navigator died in the evening from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

The pilot took the late decision to turn back and made an error by flying into a patch of fog. A poor flight preparation on part of the crew was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Tupolev P-6 in Saratov

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-7 (PS-7)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-T487

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

22270

YOM:

1934

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Circumstances:

While approaching Saratov, the crew encountered foggy conditions. In poor visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The flight was conducted below minimum weather conditions,
- The flight was conducted with a non operational airspeed indicator,
- Careless determination of actual flight altitude,
- The pilot made a turn without gaining altitude.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-3 near Saratov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Putilov Stal-3

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1258

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

258

YOM:

1936

Location:

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Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Saratov, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. It failed to arrive at destination and was not found. Both crew members were supposed dead.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Saratov

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3973

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kuybyshev – Saratov – Astrakhan – Baku

MSN:

184 18 10

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Kuybyshev on a flight to Baku with intermediate stops in Saratov and Astrakhan. Shortly after takeoff from Saratov Airport, while in initial climb, both engines lost power, causing the airplane to stall and to crash. All 13 occupants were rescued, among them five were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power caused by a mismanagement of the fuel supply system on part of the crew. It was determined that at the time of the accident, both engines were feeded by the main left tank that was almost empty while sufficient fuel remained on other tanks.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Saratov: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1941

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3989

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site: