Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Gora Ioanna: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1956 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5033
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lavrentiya – Uelkal – Anadyr
MSN:
184 356 09
YOM:
31
Location:
Mt Gora Ioanna
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
5333
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Uelkal bound for Anadyr with seven passengers on board, a crew of five and 580 kg of various goods. While approaching Anadyr by night, the crew did not realized he was off course by eight km when, at an altitude of 720 meters, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Gora Ioanna (920 meters high) located about 35 km northeast of Anadyr. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the burnt wreckage was found four days later on a 50° slope. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the deviation. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to the night and clouds. The assumption that the aircraft was caught by downdraft was not ruled out.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Zolotoy Mountains

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Anadyr – Uelkal
MSN:
18422607
Location:
Anadyr
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
About 15 minutes after takeoff from Anadyr, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Zolotoy Mountain Range, northeast of Anadyr. While the occupant fate remains unknown, the aircraft was destroyed. It was reported by the Russian Authorities that the captain was known for his lack of discipline and his alcohol problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Vel'Kal: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Uelkal
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Kresta Bay, off Vel'Kal. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL near Uelkal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
UelKal - Seymchan
MSN:
9848
YOM:
1943
Location:
Uelkal
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, a fire erupted in the cockpit and the crew tried to extinguish the fire without success. Intoxicated by smoke, pilots lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames on the Mt Ushkanyi, some 55 km west of Uelkal. Rescuers arrived on site three days later and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cockpit fire was caused by a short-circuit on an electric cable located in the main panel.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-10-DO Havoc near the Bogoloshan River: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-33203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Uelkal - Seymchan
MSN:
6665
YOM:
1941
Location:
Bogoloshan River
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a transfer flight from Uelkal to Seymchan, part of a group from the 2nd Convoy Regiment. En route, weather conditions worsened with clouds down to 90 metres above ground. While cruising at an altitude of 2,100 metres, the pilot initiated a descent and entered the cloud area when, 10 to 15 seconds later, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near the mouth of the Bogoloshan River, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot lost control of the airplane after suffering a spatial disorientation when entering an area of thick clouds. It is believed that he was probably not referring to his instruments and failed to realize that the airplane was losing speed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL east of Uelkal: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23440
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Fort Wainwright - Uelkal
MSN:
9302
YOM:
1942
Location:
Uelkal
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Fort Wainwright AFB (Ladd Field), Alaska, on a flight to Uelkal, carrying three crew members and a load consisting of two wooden spools of electrical cable, each weighing approximately 1,000 kg. While cruising in clouds, the crew started the descent to Uelkal. At an altitude of 660 metres, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located 140 km east of Uelkal. The wreckage was found in August 1943 some 5 km from the coastline. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a premature descent on part of the crew while flying in poor visibility due to clouds.
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