Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Yelets

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3437
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7 5 13
YOM:
1941
Location:
Yelets
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Yelets. The airplane was destroyed and on the six people on board, only the passenger was injured, Chief of Staff of the 568th Regiment.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Yelets: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1942 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
GVF PS-84
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3484
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vzdruzhnoye - Ielets
MSN:
184 10 13
YOM:
1941
Location:
Yelets
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
1267
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Yelets following a supply mission to soldiers based in Vzdruzhnoye, beyond the enemy lines. The approach to Yelets Airport was attempted at night and in poor visibility. The crew completed three circuits around the airport when the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft that crashed short of runway. Three crew members and both passengers were killed while two other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during an approach attempted in below-minima weather conditions.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Yelets: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3339
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Yelets
MSN:
226
YOM:
1940
Location:
Yelets
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on a flight from Moscow-Myachkovo and Yelets. Lost without trace.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Yelets: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942 at 0526 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2586
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yelets - Tchern
MSN:
12896
YOM:
1938
Location:
Yelets
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1857
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Yelets Airport at 0520LT on a mail flight to Tchern. About six minutes later, while cruising in poor visibility due to marginal weather conditions, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot who initiated the flight in the early morning without sufficient visibility and his decision to continue under VFR instead of IFR mode.

Crash of a Polikarpov S-3 near Tchern: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1149
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tchern - Yelets
MSN:
14322
YOM:
1939
Location:
Tchern
Tula oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on an ambulance flight from Tchern to Yelets, carrying two wounded soldiers and one pilot, the airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-3 in Nizhne Kazache: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1937 at 1047 LT
Type of aircraft:
Putilov Stal-3
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1232
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Yelets – Voronezh – Astrakhan
MSN:
232
YOM:
1936
Location:
Nizhnee Kazache
Lipetsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
489
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow on a flight to Astrakhan with intermediate stops in Yelets and Voronezh, carrying three passengers, two crew members and a load of 319 kg of mail. About 15 minutes after takeoff from Yelets Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 660 metres, the engine started to fail. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a rye field when the airplane impacted an embankment, lost its undercarriage and crashed. All five occupants were injured, the mechanic seriously. He died the next day from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The engine failure resulted from the destruction of the connecting rods on cylinders n°2 and 6 due to the fact that the fuel used had a too low octane rate and that the oil was not compliant.
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