Crash of a Tupolev PS-40 on Mt Karzhantau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1942 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3541
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tashkent – Frunze – Alma-Ata – Semipalatinsk
MSN:
14/215
YOM:
1939
Location:
Mt Karzhantau
Tashkent Province (Toshkent viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
540
Circumstances:
The crew was in charge to transfer the airplane to its new base in Semipalatinsk and departed Tashkent Airport at 0625LT. En route stops were scheduled in Frunze (Bishkek) and Alma-Ata. About 40 minutes after departure, weather conditions deteriorated on the east part of Uzbekistan with a sand storm. As the airplane failed to arrive in Frunze, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the airplane was found. The wreckage was eventually found in 1943 at an altitude of 2,501 metres, on the Karzhantau Mountain Range, some 65 km northeast of Tashkent. The airplane impacted the slope of the mountain about 100 metres below the summit and was partially destroyed by a post crash fire. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to follow the prescribed route and continued at an insufficient altitude to pass the Karzhantau Mountain Range. Thus, it is considered that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain while flying in marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 on Mt Nuratau: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1942 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1497
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Urganch - Tashkent
MSN:
22 524
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mt Nuratau
Jizzakh Province (Jizzax viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Aircraft flight hours:
2571
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Urganch Airport at 1400LT on a flight to Tashkent, carrying 12 adult passengers, one child, five members of the Uzbek Civil Aviation and five crew members. Due to atmospheric interferences, it was difficult to establish communication with the crew. Nevertheless, a last message was recorded at 1626LT. It seems the airplane crashed half an hour later, at 1700LT. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was later found about 100 metres below the summit of Mt Nuratau (800 metres high) located about 60 km northwest of Jizzakh. The airplane was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the accident may have been the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight in marginal weather conditions. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course due to unfavorable winds and the visibility was poor due to clouds.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 in Kyzyl-Arvat: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941 at 0225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1996
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tashkent – Ashgabat
MSN:
22 327
YOM:
1937
Location:
Kyzyl-Arvat
Balkan Province (Balkan welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3118
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tashkent on a cargo flight to Ashgabat, carrying three passengers and six crew members on behalf of the Central Asian Military District. Prior to departure from Tashkent Airport, the crew was informed that all bearings and lighting systems would be available upon arrival in Ashgabat. Nevertheless, while descending at night to Ashgabat, the crew was unable to locate the airport due to the blackout of the city. In such conditions, the crew decided to divert to Kyzyl-Arvat located in the Krasnovodsk district of Turkmenistan. On final approach, at a height of 70 metres, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill located 3 km south of the airport. Four crew members and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The investigation revealed that in spite of the assurance given by the Air Force Command in Ashgabat, no activities have been conducted at the airport which was not accessible when the crew started the approach. This cause a confusion to the crew that lost his orientation.

Crash of a Tupolev G-2 near Bekobod: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1941 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-6 (TB-3 & G-2)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1496
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tashkent – Fergana
MSN:
22 114
YOM:
1937
Location:
Bekobod
Tashkent Province (Toshkent viloyati)
Country:
Uzbekistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
3407
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Tashkent to Fergana, carrying a load of three tons of jam, clothes, leather goods and wooden boot-block for a total weight of 3,339 kilos. While cruising at an altitude between 200 and 250 metres, the airplane encountered heavy winds and turbulence, descended to a height of 90 metres then became uncontrollable and crashed 6 km north of Bekobod. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the wind was gusting to 72 km/h at the time of the accident and the crew was aware of this. Prior to departure, during the flight preparation, the fleet captain confirmed that wind gusting to 72 km/h was ok for this kind of aircraft but told the captain and his crew to fly above the minimum altitude of 1,500 metres. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight at an insufficient altitude of 200-250 metres. Gusty winds hit the front of the airplane that went out of control and crashed.

Crash of a Polikarpov R-1 in Parachinar

Date & Time: May 13, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov R-1
Operator:
Government of Afghanistan
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tashkent - Kabul
Location:
Parachinar
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (وفاقی قبائلی علاقہ جات)
Country:
Pakistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Tashkent to Kabul, the crew got lost and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near Parachinar, bursting into flames. Both occupants were rescued and the aircraft was destroyed. The Russian crew was supposed to deliver the airplane to the Afghan Government in Kabul.
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