Crash of a Douglas A-20G-1-DO Havoc in Zhatai: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1943 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-53625
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Kirensk
MSN:
10960
YOM:
1943
Location:
Zhatai
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Yakutsk Airport on a delivery flight to Kirensk and was the last of a group of five. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 10-15 metres, the left engine failed. The crew raised the landing gear and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in Zhatai, some 10 km northeast of the airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Ivan Alekseevich Timoshenko, pilot,
Sgt Mikhail Vasilievich Smirnov, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The left engine stopped during initial climb following a failure of the fuel pump. The airplane was fully loaded at the time of the accident.

Crash of a North American B-25C-15 Mitchell off Zhatai: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1943 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
42-32519
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Irkutsk - Olyokminsk - Kirensk
MSN:
93-12627
YOM:
1942
Location:
Zhatai
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Irkutsk Airport on a delivery flight to Kirensk with an intermediate stop in Olyokminsk. On board were four crew members and two passengers, one mechanic and one transmission officer. After takeoff from Irkutsk Airport, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 500-600 metres then descended to 100-150 metres. After few seconds, it entered a left turn to 45° then overturned and dove into the iced Lena River, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 800 metres offshore, near Zhatai, some 8 km northeast of Irkutsk Airport. The airplane was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A loss of control following a pilot error. The exact cause of the accident could not be determined and a possible engine failure could not be ascertained due to the high degree of destruction.
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