Country
Russia

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Novgorod: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1936 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1781
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Novgorod – Leningrad
MSN:
7617
YOM:
1935
Location:
Novgorod
Novgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Novgorod Airport at 1410LT on a flight to Leningrad, carrying one pilot and one passenger, a fire inspector. At the time of departure, weather conditions were as follow: horizontal visibility 1,500 - 2,000 metres, vertical visibility 150 - 170 metres and wind 2-3 m/s. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and according to the engine noise, it is understood that the airplane was not flying in the direction of Leningrad but Kresttsy instead. Nevertheless, the pilot apparently attempted to return to the airport when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed one km from the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while flying in clouds. His decision to takeoff in clouds and without received a weather bulletin prior to departure are considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP near Troitskoye: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L971
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk – Troitskoye – Komsomolsk-on-Amur
MSN:
7128
YOM:
1935
Location:
Troitskoye
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Khabarovsk on a mail flight to Komsomolsk-on-Amur with an intermediate stop in Troitskoye. On the second leg, he encountered unfavorable winds and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a swampy area. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On 13 April 1938, the wreckage was found by hunters some 52 km from the Khungari River estuary.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot encountered unfavorable winds and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a swampy area. The pilot apparently survived the accident but it is possible that he was killed by hunters.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP near Magnitogorsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1935 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A525
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5939
YOM:
1934
Location:
Magnitogorsk
Chelyabinsk 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:
249
Aircraft flight cycles:
868
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a crop spraying flight in the region of Magnitogorsk. Following a sowing mission over a surface of 130 hectares and after completing 58 landings, the pilot was instructed to stop the mission as the goal was to sow 100 hectares and the wind was rising. Nevertheless, he continued and initiated a 270° turn at a height of 15 metres when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 30 km from Magnitogorsk. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a loss of speed during the last turn completed at a too low altitude. A poor flight organization and a lack of discipline on part of the pilot were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Basargechar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-M7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Yerevan - Basargechar
MSN:
5987
YOM:
1934
Location:
Vardenis
Gegharkunik
Country:
Armenia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
278
Aircraft flight cycles:
289
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Yerevan, the airplane was approaching the destination at an altitude of 1,000 metres when the pilot initiated a straight-in approach, which is against the published procedures that request a circuit vertical to the airfield. Doing so, the pilot deviated from the approach path. Once at a height of 50 metres, he attempted to go around when the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed one km from the airport. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following:
- The pilot failed to follow the approach procedures,
- Engine failure on approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Yazovo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1934 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk – Pavlovsk
MSN:
4170
YOM:
1933
Location:
Yazovo
Altai Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
386
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Novosibirsk at 1200LT on a flight to Pavlovsk with one pilot and one passenger (a member of the government) on board. In violation of the article 167, the pilot continued the flight at an insufficient altitude. Once he reached the village of Yazovo, he spotted a group of people and completed a low pass (around 3 meters above the ground). After passing the village, he realized he was facing a hill and made a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Lack of discipline on part of the pilot who decided to perform the flight below the minimum safe altitude. While facing a hill, he initiated a sharp turn during which the airplane stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Polikarpov SP in Aktyubinsk

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1934 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1015
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5716
YOM:
1934
Location:
Aktyubinsk
Aktobe
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aktyubinsk Airport on a mail flight, carrying one pilot and 125 kg of mail. Ten minutes after takeoff, the pilot decided to return because he thought there was a loss of hydraulic pressure. Following a wrong approach configuration, he landed with a tailwind component when, upon landing, the airplane crashed and collided with a parked Polikarpov SP registered CCCP-L1018. The pilot escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot adopted wrong piloting techniques,
- Wrong approach calculation and configuration,
- Non compliance with published procedures,
- The pilot landed with a tailwind component,
- The person in charge of the airport failed to change the 'T' according to the wind component.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP near Karsakpay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1934 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A291
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Karsakpay – Dzhusaly
MSN:
4159
YOM:
1933
Location:
Karsakpay
Karagandy
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
166
Aircraft flight cycles:
252
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Karsakpay at 1330LT on a flight to Dzhusaly, carrying two passengers, one pilot and 39 kg of cargo. The pilot failed to prepare the flight properly, did not get any information about the weather en route and did not have any suitable charts. Few minutes after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to snow falls. The pilot decided to return to Karsakpay and initiated a turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 30 km from Karsakpay. All three occupants were injured, the pilot seriously. He died from his injuries seven days later.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a stall during a turn completed at low altitude due to poor piloting techniques with an overloaded aircraft and through difficult weather conditions.
The following factors were identified:
- The pilot started the flight without any information about the flight conditions en route,
- The pilot did not have appropriate maps (charts),
- The pilot was intoxicated the day before and the day of the accident.
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