Region
Asia

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Stalinabad: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L46
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Kulyab
MSN:
6053
YOM:
1938
Location:
Dushanbe
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Stalinabad to Kulyab when the right wing caught fire some 20 minutes into the flight (probably due to a leak in a fuel pipe). The fuel tanks in the right wing exploded, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed into rocks in the Rangon Mountain Range located southeast of Stalinabad. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Tadjik investigation commission reported that the accident was caused by several errors committed by the crew. The NII GVF inspection disagreed with these results and reported that the crash may have been caused by a technical issue on a fuel line (carburetor and/or collector) linked to the right BMW-132 engine.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 near Odudi Pass: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3316
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stalinabad - Khorugh
MSN:
203
YOM:
1939
Location:
Odudi Pass
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalinabad on a flight to Khorugh, carrying six passengers (four adults and two children) and one pilot. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor. Despite the situation, the pilot decided to continue. Flying in clouds, the airplane struck a rock and crashed in deep snow at an altitude of 3,900 metres near the Odudi Pass. All seven occupants survived the accident with minor injuries but without any food and in extreme conditions with very low outside temperature. Twelve days after the accident, the pilot and three passengers tried to find help and left the crash site. During this trip, a passenger died of cold. On May 12, an expedition was sent to the crash site and found a woman and her two children aged one and nine died of cold and hunger.
Probable cause:
The following factors were determined:
- The weather briefing transmitted to the pilot prior to the flight did not reflect the truth and reported good weather conditions all along the route from Stalinabad to Khorugh,
- The pilot decided to continue the flight despite the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions and failed to return to his departure point.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Khorugh

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2175
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dushanbe - Khorugh
MSN:
119
YOM:
1937
Location:
Khorugh
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a flight from Dushanbe, the single engine airplane crashed upon landing at Khorugh Airfield and was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Mismanagement of the landing equipment on part of the pilot,
- The decision of the pilot to land without checking the exact position of the landing gear (skis),
- A faulty conception of the undercarriage.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 near Kulob: 13 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1941 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L112
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kulob - Stalinabad
MSN:
112
YOM:
1931
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
5387
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kulob Airport at 1100LT on a schedule service to Stalinabad, carrying 11 passengers (nine adults and two children), two pilots and a total of 265 kg of luggage. Ten minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 940 metres above a mountainous area, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but there were no suitable terrain. The airplane lost height and impacted the slope of a rocky mountain (slope of 60°) located 18 km northwest of Kulob. The wreckage was found less than an hour later some 15 metres below the summit. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the degree of destruction of the airplane and the lack of witnesses, the exact circumstances of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, one of the engine failed in flight, most probably due to the failure of a fuel supply and/or the carburetor where irregular and abnormal wears were found, because of a poor polish during the last repair session.

Crash of a Tupolev G-1 in Danghara

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1 & G-1)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1991
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
723
YOM:
1931
Location:
Danghara
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances one km southeast of Danghara. All three crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Leninabad: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov PR-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2162
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Leninabad
MSN:
106
YOM:
1937
Location:
Leninabad
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At 0700LT, the pilot was cleared for takeoff from Stalinabad on a mail flight to Leninabad despite weather conditions at destination were poor due to thunderstorm activity. On approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field and was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was inexperienced and this was his first solo flight. Failure of the Authority at Stalinabad Airport who allowed the pilot to take off despite poor weather conditions at destination and his lack of experience.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP on Mt Yafush: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1938 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A626
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tavildara – Jirgatal
MSN:
7747
YOM:
1936
Location:
Mt Yafush
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
726
Aircraft flight cycles:
960
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tavildara at 1347LT on a mail flight to Jirgatal with one pilot and a load of 110 kg of mail on board. After departure, the pilot deviated from the prescribed route and entered a narrow valley. After 10 km, he decided to return but while making a sharp turn to the left at a height of 25-30 metres, the airplane stalled and crashed on the slope of Mt Yafush. the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to follow the published procedures and entered a narrow valley instead following the normal route to Jirgatal.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Kulob: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1936 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov P-5
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1892
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kulob - Stalinabad
MSN:
9492
YOM:
1935
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1341
Aircraft flight cycles:
954
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Kulob Airport at 1650LT on a cargo flight to Stalinabad, carrying one pilot and six bags of corn for a total weight of 425 kg. After takeoff, the pilot made several circuits over the airport to reach the altitude of 800 metres then sets course for Stalinabad. About 10 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the engine failed. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but there was not suitable terrain. Out of control, the airplane crashed on hilly terrain located about 10 km from Kulob. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an engine failure due to the failure of the lower head of the 3rd cylinder connecting rod as a result of poor heat treatment. The accident occurred in an area that did not allow the pilot to make an emergency landing, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Kulob: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1936 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L192
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stalinabad - Kulob
MSN:
193
YOM:
1934
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
1452
Aircraft flight cycles:
857
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalinabad on a regular service to Kulob, carrying four passengers, two pilots and a load of 502 kg of various goods, 97 kg of mail and 54 kg of luggage. Following a downwind leg, while flying over the runway at a height of 10 metres, ready for landing, the pilot-in-command increased the engine power and initiated a go-around procedure. The airplane climbed to a height of 30 metres in an excessive nose-up attitude then stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a series of errors on part of the pilot-in-command who, following a downwind approach, initiated a go-around as the landing procedure was obviously missed. At that point, he increased the throttle too sharply while the stabilizers were not in the correct position, resulting in the aircraft entering an excessive nose-up attitude followed by an aerodynamic stall.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- No technical anomalies were found with the aircraft, its equipment or the engine;
- Wrong approach configuration;
- Incorrect actions during the go-around procedure;
- Lack of discipline;
- Overconfidence of the captain;
- Crew fatigue;
- Absence of a crew work conditions monitoring system.

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Stalinabad

Date & Time: May 23, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L183
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
184
YOM:
1934
Location:
Dushanbe
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Stalinabad Airport. Both crew members were injured.
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