Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in the Kara Sea

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1980
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-62479
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1G42-27
YOM:
1964
Location:
Kara Sea
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a choice of landing sites on drifting ice in the Kara Sea. Upon landing on ice, the right ski struck a blow of snow. Both skis were torn off while the fuselage and both lower wings received significant damages. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was abandoned on site and later sank during ice hummock.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was slightly of course upon landing compare to the first landing aircraft.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Rexville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1979 at 0931 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
IFG Leasing Company
Registration:
N5003E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Albany - Lancaster
MSN:
680-1737-144
YOM:
1968
Location:
Rexville
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Albany on an air pollution monitoring program flight to Lancaster, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered severe turbulences when control was lost. The airplane crashed in Rexville, killing all three occupants.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during normal cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Aktash

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35360
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novokuznetsk – Gorno-Altaysk – Aktash – Novokuznetsk
MSN:
1 130 473 02
YOM:
1959
Location:
Aktash
Altai Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck trees, stalled and crashed. The occupant's fate remains unknown. The crew was completing a flight from Novokuznetsk to Gorno-Altaysk and Aktash with few geologist on board. The departure was attempted at an altitude of 1,470 meters with an OAT of +30° C. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 358 kilos above the MTOW and the takeoff speed was too low.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The total weight of the aircraft was 358 kilos above the MTOW,
- The takeoff speed was insufficient,
- Altitude density,
- High OAT at +30° C.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Manidar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
C-FSAW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4644
YOM:
1942
Location:
Manidar
Razavi Khorasan
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a geo-survey mission, searching for uranium. While cruising in a valley, the crew encountered limited visibility with low clouds when, facing a mountain, the pilot-in-command made a 180 turn. The aircraft struck the mountain and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Susuman: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1977 at 1040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98368
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Susuman - Susuman
MSN:
1 107 473 01
YOM:
1958
Location:
Susuman
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
12026
Aircraft flight cycles:
8863
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Susuman Airfield at 0826LT on a prospecting mission on behalf of the 22nd Geophysical NPN Group based in Seymchan. It was carrying three crew members and three operators of the NPN Group. While cruising in a valley at an altitude of 800 meters, the airplane struck power cables (it cut three cables), went out of control and crashed in flames 375 meters further. All three crew members were seriously injured and all three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the minimum prescribed altitude during the mission and failed to see and avoid the cables that were located about 50 meters above the ground. A poor flight planning and the fact that the mission was not well organized by the geophysical company were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Springbok: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1977
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-CMI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1418
YOM:
1960
Location:
Springbok
Northern Cape
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a rocky and mountainous area located near Springbok. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Mwanza

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Geosurvey International
Registration:
5Y-ATM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
402B-0445
YOM:
1973
Location:
Mwanza
Mwanza Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Mwanza. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5FS Neptune on Mt Barnard: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1976 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
0644
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rio Grande - Rio Grande
MSN:
426-5416
Location:
Mt Barnard (Livingston Island)
All Antarctica
Country:
Antarctica
Region:
Antarctica
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew departed Río Grande-Almirante Hermes José Quijada Airport in the morning on a glaciology exploration mission over Antarctica. While flying in relative good weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Barnard located on the Livingston Island. Communication was lost with the crew at 1245LT and SAR operations were immediately initiated. The wreckage was located eight days later, on September 25. All 11 occupants were killed. The aircraft had a dual registration 0644 and 2-P-103.
Crew:
Lt Miguel Berraz, pilot,
Cpt Arnaldo Mutto, copilot,
Lt Claudio Cabut,
Lt Romualdo Migliardo, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Nelson Villagra,
Cpl Jesus Arroyo,
Sgt Juan Noto,
Cpl Benjamin Scesa, radio operator,
Cpl Omar Campastri,
Sgt Remberto Brizuela.
Passenger:
Rodolfo Rivarola, Director of Canal 13 Television in Río Grande.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 on Mt Yamantau: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 0758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35501
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Beloretsk - Beloretsk
MSN:
113947307
YOM:
1960
Location:
Mt Yamantau
Republic of Bashkortostan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
17095
Circumstances:
The crew departed Beloretsk at 0709LT on a prospection mission in the region of Inzer on behalf of a logging program for the Ural Geological Administration, carrying three passengers and three crew members. At 0730LT, the crew informed ATC about his position and that he would start soon the aerial work. While cruising in clouds (400 to 600 meters above the ground), the airplane crashed on the east slope of Mt Yamantau (976 meters high) located 35 km east of Inzer. As the contact was interrupted with the crew and that the airplane failed to return to its base, SAR operations were initiated and the burned wreckage was found two days later about 70 meters below the summit of the mountain. All six occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control in altitude after the airplane encountered orographic currents specific to the terrain of Mt Yamantau. Despite a reaction from the crew who increased the engine power, he was unable to maintain a suitable control of the airplane.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14M near Bagdarin: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1975 at 1027 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-52056
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chita - Bagdarin
MSN:
7 34 28 04
YOM:
1957
Location:
Bagdarin
Republic of Buryatia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
16396
Aircraft flight cycles:
9689
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a special mission on behalf of the Voyekova Geophysical Observatory, carrying a crew of five and six passengers, among them three employees of the observatory. Following a successfully mission consisting of thunderstorm observation, the crew was approaching Bagdarin when he encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and heavy rain falls. While descending to an altitude of 600 meters in clouds, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of a mountain (827 meters high), about 28 km from the Bagdarin Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Poor approach planning on part of the crew who failed to follow the approved procedures and adopted a wrong approach configuration, causing the aircraft to descend to an unsafe altitude over mountainous area and in poor weather conditions. The lack of visibility due to clouds and rain was considered as a contributing factor as well as a poor ATC assistance.
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