Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Samarkand Province (Samarqand viloyati)

Schedule:

Tashkent - Samarkand

MSN:

182 0043 03

YOM:

1962

Flight number:

SU045

Location:

Samarkand

Country:

Uzbekistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12885

Aircraft flight cycles:

4968

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Tashkent at an altitude of 5,100 meters, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,700 then 2,400 meters. While approaching Samarkand Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility with low clouds. At an altitude of 1,500 meters, in a nose-down attitude of 16° and at a speed of 380 km/h, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 32 km northeast of the airport. The copilot and 13 passengers were rescued while 92 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of the combination of several factors, among them:
- Poor ATC assistance and wrong instructions on part of the approach controller who cleared the crew to descent prematurely as he thought the position of the aircraft was 31 km from airport while it's real position was estimated between 42 and 44 km,
- Lack of visibility due to clouds,
- The flying crew failed to double-check his position after being cleared to descend and continued in clouds.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Tokmasskiy: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1970 at 1150 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-40573

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chelyabinsk – Magnitogorsk

MSN:

1G84-26

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2774

Aircraft flight cycles:

4785

Circumstances:

On a positioning flight from Chelyabinsk to Magnitogorsk, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (heavy snow falls and limited visibility). While cruising at an altitude of 300 meters, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a snow-covered field located near Tokmasskiy, some 18 km northeast of Uyskoye. The wreckage was found 6 km off course and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-124V near Kilpyavr AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1970 at 1927 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-124

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-45083

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Leningrad - Murmansk

MSN:

5 35 17 06

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

SU145

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7425

Aircraft flight cycles:

5854

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight by night at an assigned altitude of 8,400 meters, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,400 bound for Kilpyavr AFB near Murmansk. While in a 3° nose-down attitude, the airplane struck the snow covered slope of a hill (240 meters high), slid for 624 meters then lost its both engines and wings and came to a halt, broken in two. The wreckage was found 29,5 km from the airport and 8 km to the right of the extended centerline. Eight passengers and three crew members (the captain, the navigator and the flight engineer) were killed while 27 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot-in-command started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum prescribed altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and the absence of any visual reference points on the ground did not allow the crew to know his exact position and to distinguish the ground obstacles. ATC allowed the crew to perform a straight-in approach with radar control. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Absence of an established approach procedure,
- Intermittent loss of VHF communications during the approach procedure,
- The relative inexperience of the flying crew with less than 500 flying hours on this type of aircraft.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B near Batagay: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1970 at 2053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-47701

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Schedule:

Chokurdakh - Batagay

MSN:

59900202

YOM:

1965

Location:

Batagay

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared to descent to 2,700 meters and received all information related to the destination airport. Shortly later, the crew informed ATC about their ETA in eight minutes. As the pilot has the runway in sight, he was cleared to descend to 600 meters. While cruising at an altitude of 1,020 meters at a speed of 350 km/h in a 7° nose-down attitude and a 3° left bank, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,081 meters high) located 40 km from the airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 34 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the ground collision was the consequence of a premature descent on part of the pilot-in-command who continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude. The lack of visibility caused by night and the lack of assistance on part of ATC were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Avia 14P off Makhachkala: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1969 at 1833 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52010

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Makhachkala - Astrakhan

MSN:

023 703 101

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

SU2953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

20481

Aircraft flight cycles:

18670

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Makhachkala Airport at 1829LT and climbed over the sea. Less than two minutes later, the crew was cleared to climb to 2,100 meters when the pilot reported to ATC the presence of clouds over the sea that were not mentioned in the weather bulletin transmitted to him prior to the flight. Suddenly, the aircraft nosed down and plunged into the sea about 3,5 km offshore. The wreckage was found in a depth of 10 meters and all 17 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that, at an altitude of 400 meters while climbing, the airplane struck a flock of migratory birds that struck the windshield that broke instantly, killing both pilots. It was reported that many birds were migrating in this region, at any time during this period of the year.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Lunino: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1969 at 1035 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-35083

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Penza - Kazan

MSN:

1G111-09

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

Aircraft flight cycles:

Circumstances:

A first AN-2 registered CCCP-35082 departed Penza Airport at 1012LT on a positioning flight to Kazan. The AN-2 registered CCCP-35083 departed three minutes later on the same routing with one passenger and two pilots on board. For unknown reason, the crew of CCCP-35083 wanted to reach the first crew so they accelerated and joined the first aircraft about 20 minutes later. Due to poor judgement, the engine of CCCP-35083 struck the base of the tail of CCCP-35082. Out of control, it nosed down and crashed inverted in an open field located near Lunino. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. The other aircraft was able to land without further problem.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement and wrong actions on part of the flying crew.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12PL in Katanga: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1969 at 0707 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-11381

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moscow - Syktyvkar - Katanga - Anadyr

MSN:

4 028 07

YOM:

1964

Flight number:

SU5135

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4787

Aircraft flight cycles:

1649

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Moscow to Anadyr with intermediate stops in Syktyvkar and Katanga, carrying a load ot 9,905 kilos of oranges and 384 kilos of mail. Both legs between Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Syktyvkar and Katanga were uneventful. The crew started the approach to Katanga by night and marginal weather conditions (low clouds, snow falls and a visibility of 5 km) when he was cleared to descent to 400 meters. At high speed, flaps and undercarriage raised, the airplane banked left to 20-25° when it struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 13 km short of runway threshold. No distress call was sent from the crew prior to the accident. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of ice on wings and stabs during an approach by night in severe icing conditions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Mukachevo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1969 at 1059 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-44995

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: