Country
Russia

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Polyany: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1933 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A198
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Polyany - Polyany
MSN:
3436
YOM:
1932
Location:
Polyany
Penza oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
164
Aircraft flight cycles:
920
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a spraying mission in the area of Polyany, carrying one passenger and one pilot. On approach, the pilot completed several turns and the last one was relatively sharp with a 50° bank when the airplane stalled and crashed. The passenger was injured and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Kazan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1933 at 1821 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-S227
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kazan - Kazan
MSN:
4359
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kazan
Republic of Tatarstan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
25
Aircraft flight cycles:
122
Circumstances:
The crew departed Kazan Airport on a local flight. On short final, at a height of about 30-35 metres, the airplane collided with an Aeroflot Tupolev ANT-9 registered CCCP-L150 that was completing a local test flight. It appears that on final, the Polikarpov was flying above the ANT-9 and cut his track before the collision occurred. The Polikarpov dove into the ground and was destroyed. Both pilots were seriously injured and died two hours later. The Tupolev continued for few seconds before it crashed near the runway, coming to rest broken in two. All 11 occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of a poor organization between the crew and the Kazan Airport Authorities as no proper procedures were in place at the time of the accident for such test flight. The pilot of the Polikarpov failed to bring attention to potential traffic and did not realize the presence of the second aircraft. On his side, the pilot of the ANT-9 was unable to see the Polikarpov flying above him due to the upper wings position.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh480
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
2773
YOM:
1932
Location:
Balashov
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
348
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. On approach, at an altitude of about 250 metres, it collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh90, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board and just took off. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.
Probable cause:
The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Balashov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1933 at 0717 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh90
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Balashov - Balashov
MSN:
3853
YOM:
1932
Location:
Balashov
Saratov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
49
Aircraft flight cycles:
118
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Balashov on a local training flight, carrying one instructor and one cadet. After takeoff, the pilot made a left turn then climbed to the altitude of about 250 metres when the aircraft collided with a second Aeroflot Polikarpov U-2. Registered CCCP-Sh480, this airplane was also completing a local training flight at Balashov with two crew members on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield, killing all four occupants, among them both instructors Butenko and Korovine.
Probable cause:
The instructor Korovine on board CCCP-Sh480 failed to observe sufficient attention on the potential traffic while approaching the airfield and committed serious violations during the circuit, resulting in the collision. The second instructor Butenko was blamed for the same reason. It was also determined that the pilot of CCCP-Sh480 was approaching the airport facing the sun rising, which affected his vision.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Michurinsk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1933 at 0610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-Sh566
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Michurinsk - Michurinsk
MSN:
3050
YOM:
1932
Location:
Michurinsk
Tambov 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:
485
Aircraft flight cycles:
2572
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Michurinsk Airport on a local solo training flight. While flying at an altitude of about 700-750 metres, he initiated manoeuvres when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered a loss of orientation (spatial disorientation) due to his inexperience.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Nizhne Volzhsky: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1933 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Nizhne Volzhsky - Nizhne Volzhsky
MSN:
3434
YOM:
1932
Location:
Nizhne Volzhsky
Volgograd oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
105
Aircraft flight cycles:
25
Circumstances:
Following several crop spraying flights during the day, the pilot elected to make a test flight with a mechanic before the aircraft would be transferred to Kotelnikovo. After takeoff, the pilot continued at a height of about 100-150 metres then completed some turns before the aircraft started to descent. While turning at an angle of 40-45°, the airplane lost height and crashed nose first. Both occupants were seriously injured and the pilot died from his injuries less than an hour later.
Probable cause:
The pilot initiated an unauthorized test flight and completed sharp turns at a too low altitude and insufficient speed, causing the aircraft to stall and crash.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Tambov: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1932 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tambov - Tambov
Location:
Tambov
Tambov oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and one cadet) departed Tambov for a local training flight. While flying on its back at an altitude of 800 metres, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near the runway. Both occupants were killed.
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