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Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Balkhash Lake: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1955 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4981
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Almaty – Balkhash – Moscow
MSN:
2 34 433 07
YOM:
22
Flight number:
SU090
Location:
Balkhash
Karagandy
Country:
Kazakhstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
4023
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Almaty Airport at 0515LT bound for Moscow via Balkash, carrying one passenger, five crew members, 763 kilos of various goods and 683 kilos of mail. Upon departure, the total weight of the aircraft was 10,722 kilos, 22 kilos above MTOW. Enroute to Balkash, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While flying in clouds, some instruments failed. The pilot-in-command lost his orientation and then the control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a snow covered area located about 105 km southeast of the Balkash Lake. It was determined that the aircraft hit the ground in a 65° nose-down angle at high speed and disintegrated on impact, causing the debris to be scattered on more than 200 meters. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of a vacuum regulator which cause the dysfunction of the gyrocompas and then the automatic pilot system. While cruising in very low visibility (night and clouds), the crew suffered a spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 on Mt Tordoki-Yani: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1955 at 1207 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4993
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Sovietskaya Gavan – Elabuga – Khabarovsk
MSN:
2 34 433 06
YOM:
0
Flight number:
SU976
Location:
Mt Tordoki-Yani
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
4021
Circumstances:
After his departure from Sovietskaya Gavan Airport, the crew obtained the permission to continue at the assigned altitude of 2,700 meters. Weather conditions deteriorated enroute with clouds, turbulences and high winds blowing from the north up to 90 km/h. While overflying the Sikhote-Alin Mountain Range, the aircraft encountered downdrafts and lost altitude. The crew increased engine power and elected to gain height but the aircraft continued to descent until it struck the slope of Mt Tordoki-Yani (1,750 meters high). The wreckage was found on December 21, 1955 and all 21 occupants have been killed. It was reported that the aircraft struck the mountain 20 meters below the summit.
Probable cause:
Severe downdraft in altitude caused the aircraft to lose height and to struck the mountain.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Tyumen: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1955 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4339
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Kazan – Sverdlovsk – Petropavl – Pavlodar – Ust-Kamenogorsk
MSN:
184 281 01
YOM:
20
Flight number:
SU101
Location:
Tyumen
Tyumen oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
8612
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Sverdlovsk Airport bound for Petropavl with four passengers, a crew of five, 869 kilos of mail and 496 kilos of various goods. While cruising by night, the crew encountered higher winds than predicted and due to the lack of visibility, lost their orientation and were unable to locate the airport of Petropavl. The captain decided to divert to Kurgan Airport but was unable to contact ground due to communication problems. He then decided to return to Svedlovsk but as the fuel reserves were too low, he eventually decided to continue to Petropavl that was closed due to poor weather conditions. While cruising in snow falls about 215 km from Petropavl Airport, both engines failed due fuel exhaustion. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a snow covered field when the airplane crashed 250 meters from the Omsk-Tyumen railroad. Two passengers were seriously injured while all seven other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of orientation by the crew in flight due to the combination of the following factors:
- Lack of discipline on part of the crew,
- Poor flight preparation with the result of insufficient fuel reserve for the entire duration of flight,
- Errors in flight in the navigation calculation. More than two hours of flight were not recorded in the navigator's logbook,
- Failure to use the flight direction finder,
- Poor weather conditions at night with high winds and snow falls,
- Unsatisfactory flight management from RDS Koltsovo and ADS Kurgan.
The following findings were considered as contributing:
- Unjustified weather forecast in the direction of the wind, issued by AMSG Koltsovo,
- Unstable work of the radio compass,
- Insufficient fuel for the operation,
- Unstable work of the communication equipment,
- Low qualification of the communications operators.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Ozerevo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1955 at 0003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4712
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow-Vnukovo – Leningrad
MSN:
184 318 01
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU349
Location:
Ozerevo
Novgorod oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
8663
Circumstances:
Enroute from Vnukovo to Leningrad, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters in clouds, the right engine failed. Unfortunately, the crew was unable to feather the propeller and thus, was unable to maintain a safe altitude. The captain decided to divert to the Vypolzovo Airbase but radio contact with the base was impossible for unknown reason. Eventually, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a potatoes field located in Ozerevo when the airplane crashed. Five crew members and two passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight caused by an oil leakage due to the failure of a connection hose.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Komarovo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1955 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1359
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Krasnoyarsk – Irkutsk – Khabarovsk
MSN:
30 074
YOM:
13
Flight number:
SU005
Location:
Komarovo
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
5734
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing flight SU005 from Moscow to Khabarovsk with intermediate stops at Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, carrying three passengers, a crew of four and a load of various goods for a total weight of 417 kilos. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the aircraft went out of control and entered a dive. At an altitude between 500 and 1,000 meters, the airplane disintegrated in the air and all debris scattered in a field and a wooded area located in Komarovo, about 37 km south-southwest of Kansk. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of severe turbulences that exceeded the design of certain parts of the airplane. Poor flight preparation on part of the operator and the failure to consider the possibility of a deterioration of the weather conditions were considered as contributing factors. Also, the crew was not properly briefed about weather conditions prior to departure from Krasnoyarsk Airport.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 in Voronezh: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1955 at 1518 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5057
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stalingrad – Moscow-Vnukovo
MSN:
4 34 04 08
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
SU214
Location:
Voronezh
Voronezh oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
824
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Stalingrad to Moscow-Vnukovo, carrying a crew of five and 20 passengers, among them 10 citizens (women) from Norway who met antifascist people in Stalingrad and were flying back to Moscow. While cruising at an altitude of 2,200 meters in clouds, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and obtained the permission to divert to Voronezh Airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the right engine caught fire and while descending to an altitude of 900 meters, the right wing failed, causing the aircraft to dive into the ground and to crash about 4 km from the runway threshold. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the right engine was brand new and totalized 250 hours only. Despite this, the engine already suffered cracks and defaults. Investigations reported that a fuel leak occurred on the right engine enroute. Due to lack of oil, the engine overheated, caught fire and eventually exploded. The fire spread to its nacelle and then to the right wing that broke off few minutes later.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Birobidzhan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1955 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2616
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1 09 473 05
YOM:
15
Location:
Birobidzhan
Evreyskaya oblast (Jewish Autonomous oblast)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2169
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Birobidzhan Airport at 0810LT on a short cargo flight to a remote area, carrying two geophysicists, two pilots and two diesel drums. After takeoff, the aircraft climbed to 15-20 meters then the crew made a 180 turn and continued to the southwest for about 20 km. While cruising at an altitude of 600 meters, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both pilots were intoxicated at the time of the accident. They decided to start the flight without proper permission and failed to consult the weather forecast prior to departure. It was also reported that both passengers were not authorized to embark on this flight and at takeoff, the total weight of the aircraft was 4,900 kilos, 160 kilos above the MTOW.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Tobys

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1955 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A2641
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ukhta – Syktyvkar
MSN:
1 16 473 01
YOM:
1951
Location:
Tobys
Republic of Komi
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ukhta Airport at 1442LT bound for Syktyvkar with eight passengers and a crew of two on board. About twelve minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 300 meters, the engine lost power and windmilled down to 400 rpm. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a prairie when the aircraft struck trees and crashed at the edge of a forest and some 1,200 meters from a railway road. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all ten occupants were rescued few hours later.
Probable cause:
The engine suffered a loss of power in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Chelyabinsk: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1955 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L5579
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk
MSN:
1 49 473 17
YOM:
2
Location:
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
132
Circumstances:
The crew arrived at the Podovinnoe Farm in the Chelyabinsk region on May 12 to apply fertilizers on crops. On the evening of May 12, the crew drank a lot of vodka and red wine. There were no flight on May 13 due to poor weather conditions. On May 14 and 15, the crew completed 30 rotations each day for a total of 12 hours flight. On the evening of May 15, all four crew members went to a local hostel and again drank a lot of vodka and red wine. The captain went to bed at 0030LT, the copilot at 0255LT, the machanic at 0105LT and the flight engineer slept at the hostel. On the 16, at 0900LT, all four crew took their breakfast with vodka and red wine again. Later, the crew arrived at the airplane with four other people, among them two young girls. A local keeper elected to dissuade the crew to takeoff but without success. After takeoff at 1400LTf, the single engine aircraft climbed to a height of 60 meters then continued to a heading of 110° for about 2-3 minutes before entering a dive and crashing in a field located six km from the airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
All four crew members were drunk at the time of the accident and were not able to fly. Poor discipline and responsibility on part of the crew who decided to takeoff in such conditions. Also, the crew violated the company procedures letting non authorized people to fly with.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Dniepropetrovsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1955 at 1216 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4098
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kiev – Dniepropetrovsk – Zaporozhie
MSN:
184 143 05
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
SU599
Location:
Dnipropetrovsk
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9257
Aircraft flight cycles:
15965
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Kiev to Zaporozhie with an intermediate stop in Dniepropetrovsk, carrying a load of various goods for a total weight of 1,538 kilos, consisting of 566 kilos of mail, signal flares, brass twists and wires, and grinding wheels. On approach, at a height of 200-300 meters, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions, turbulences and strong winds when the left wing partially failed. The aircraft went out of control and crashed onto a hill located nine km short of runway. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft encountered marginal weather conditions, winds up to 58 km/h and turbulences during the approach, causing the left wing to suffer a partial structural failure.
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