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Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Kharkiv: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1953 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4732
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rostov-on-Don – Kharkiv – Moscow
MSN:
184 325 09
YOM:
26
Location:
Kharkiv
Kharkiv oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Aircraft flight hours:
5181
Circumstances:
During the final approach to Kharkiv-Osnova Airport completed by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot-in-command descended too low when he saw a railway. To avoid any collision with the electric poles, he attempted a turn to right when the aircraft stalled and crashed nose first in a garden located near houses, 2,300 meters short of runway and 150 meters to the right of its extended center line. A passenger was seriously injured while 15 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew adopted a wrong approach configuration and that both engine were running at idle when the pilot wanted to avoid obstacles. Poor approach techniques on part of the flying crew and against the published procedures according to the weather conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Magadan: 22 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1953 at 1118 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1765
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Magadan – Okhotsk – Nikolayevsk-on-Amur – Khabarovsk
MSN:
9 301 31 02
YOM:
31
Flight number:
SU783
Location:
Magadan
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
4271
Circumstances:
The departure from Magadan Airport was completed in light snow conditions. After liftoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height and rolled left and right. At an altitude of 60-70 meters, the aircraft stalled and crashed six km from the airfield, about two minutes after takeoff. All five crew members and 17 passengers were killed while 10 others were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 996 kilos above the MTOW. Also, the crew did not prepare the flight properly and failed to remove the wet snow from the aircraft prior to takeoff, which increased weight, reduced performances and lift. The combination of an overloaded and non decontaminated aircraft caused the accident.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Mineralnye Vody: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1953 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4890
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Kazan – Penza – Stalingrad – Mineralnye Vody
MSN:
184 361 06
YOM:
29
Flight number:
SU525
Location:
Mineralnye Vody
Stavropol Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
5130
Circumstances:
On the leg from Stalingrad to Mineralnye Vody, while cruising at an altitude of 2,700 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. On approach to Mineralnye Vody, the crew obtained the permission to land but the visibility was very low (about 30 meters) with snow falls when the aircraft hit the roof of a farm and crashed 226 meters farther in a snow covered field, about 17 km north of the airport. The captain was killed while seven other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew was approaching Mineralnye Vody Airport under VFR in IFR conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 in Irkoutsk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1953 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1727
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow – Irkutsk – Chita – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
9 301 32 17
YOM:
31
Location:
Irkutsk-Intl
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
3429
Circumstances:
About a minute after a night takeoff from Irkutsk-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-120 meters, the captain sent a brief message saying a plane was facing him. He made an immediate sharp turn to the right when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed 2,5 km from the runway end and 500 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Four crew members (the captain, the copilot, the flight mechanic and the radio operator) were killed while all 24 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that no aircraft was present in the vicinity of the climbing Ilyushin II-12 at the time of the accident. The pilot-in-command misinterpreted the light on the top of the inner marker located 4 km from the runway threshold for an incoming aircraft and decided to make in immediate action to avoid any collision.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Bagdarin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1953 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L231
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bagdarin – Romanovka
MSN:
1 03 473 04
YOM:
20
Location:
Bagdarin
Republic of Buryatia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1035
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the crew hurried the departure from Bagdarin to Romanovka. The aircraft was carrying eight passengers, two pilots, 300 kilos of cargo and 68 kg of mail. The captain asked the copilot to precipitate the takeoff procedure. So as soon as all eight passengers boarded, the crew started the engine, completed the taxi and joined the runway. After a takeoff run of 110 meters, the copilot started the rotation. The aircraft climbed to a height of one meter, continued for about 30 meters and banked left, hit the ground and crashed. Both pilots and one passenger were killed while seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the captain decided to hurry the departure from Bagdarin Airport. Thus, he failed to follow the pre-departure checklist and started the engine and the taxi procedure without making a visual check of the airplane. Investigations determined that the loss of control that occurred after rotation was the consequence of an error on part of the crew who failed to remove a chock that was blocking the ailerons on ground.

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

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4027
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Khorugh – Stalinabad
MSN:
184 299 05
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SU878
Location:
Rushan
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1477
Circumstances:
At 0613LT, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the crew informed ATC he just passed over the city of Rushan eight minutes earlier. Shortly later, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered clouds and low visibility. Now at an altitude of 4,800 meters, the aircraft lost height due to strong downdraft and hit the south slope of a mountain located near the Yauza Pass located about 15 km northwest of Rushan. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed. The wreckage was found two days later at an altitude of 4,800 meters, approx 100 meters below the summit.
Probable cause:
The aircraft lost height due to downdraft and at the time of the accident, it was off course because the captain decided to modify his route for undetermined reasons.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Koryak: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1953 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A2638
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Milkovo – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
1 15 473 08
YOM:
23
Location:
Koryaki
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
1002
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft left Milkovo Airport at 1235LT on a back trip to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky with eight passengers and a crew of three on board. The crew continued the flight under VFR at an altitude estimated between 1,200 and 1,300 meters. About an hour into the flight, weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds and rain falls when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 18 km northwest of Koryak. As the airplane failed to arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found three days later in an isolated area. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the flying crew to adhere to the published and prescribed procedures while flying under VFR in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-12 near Zugdidi: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1953 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-12
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L1375
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Rostov-on-Don – Tbilisi
MSN:
30103
YOM:
28
Flight number:
SU229
Location:
Zugdidi
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
Country:
Georgia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
3204
Circumstances:
The crew departed Moscow-Vnukovo Airport at 0520LT on a flight to Tbilisi with an intermediate stop scheduled at Rostov-on-Don. Due to the deterioration of the weather conditions and the presence of a storm between Krasnodar and Sukhumi, the crew decided to modify his route and obtained the permission from ATC to divert to Krasnodar. The crew and the passengers waited for few hours at Krasnodar Airport and the aircraft took off at 1507LT bound for Tbilisi. While cruising under VFR at an altitude of 2,400 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls, turbulence, hail and lightning. Within few minutes, the aircraft was hit by lightning and suffered heavy turbulence so went out of control and entered a dive. At an altitude of 300 meters, the crew elected to regain control but high g forces exceeded the design of the wings that were torn off. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames in a wooded and hilly terrain located near the village of Grigorishi, about 15 km northeast of Zugdidi. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by poor weather conditions consisting of thunderstorm activity with heavy rain falls, hail, turbulence and lightning.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Barzas: 20 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4534
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Irkutsk – Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk
MSN:
184 290 05
YOM:
30
Flight number:
SU018
Location:
Barzas
Kemerovo oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
3882
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1755LT bound for Novosibirsk with an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. At 1840LT, a second Lisunov LI-2T registered CCCP-A4031 left Novosibirsk Airport bound for Kemerovo with a crew of seven who were involved in an aerial photography mission. While approaching Kemerovo, the captain of the first LI-2 modified his route and flight level without prior permission and passed north of Kemerovo. In excellent weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters to a heading of 270° and facing the sun, the first LI-2 was hit on its right wing and right engine by the second LI-2 that was flying from the opposite. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 16,5 km west of Barzas. Debris were found on a greater distance than 600 meters and all 27 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot of the LI-2 registered CCCP-L4534 deliberately decided to modify his flight path and flight level without prior permission from ATC. Doing so, he flew into the flight path of the second aircraft that was flying to a heading of 90°. It was reported that the pilot at fault had been degraded to the co-pilot position in July 1952 due to lack of discipline and loss of direction. He had returned to his captain position last February despite serious shortcomings in piloting techniques. The low position of the sun was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2T near Barzas: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1953 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A4031
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Kemerovo
MSN:
184 326 05
YOM:
30
Location:
Barzas
Kemerovo oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1268
Circumstances:
A first Lisunov LI-2 left Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1755LT bound for Novosibirsk with an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. At 1840LT, a second Lisunov LI-2T registered CCCP-A4031 left Novosibirsk Airport bound for Kemerovo with a crew of seven who were involved in an aerial photography mission. While approaching Kemerovo, the captain of the first LI-2 modified his route and flight level without prior permission and passed north of Kemerovo. In excellent weather conditions, while cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters to a heading of 270° and facing the sun, the first LI-2 was hit on its right wing and right engine by the second LI-2 that was flying from the opposite. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 16,5 km west of Barzas. Debris were found on a greater distance than 600 meters and all 27 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot of the LI-2 registered CCCP-L4534 deliberately decided to modify his flight path and flight level without prior permission from ATC. Doing so, he flew into the flight path of the second aircraft that was flying to a heading of 90°. It was reported that the pilot at fault had been degraded to the co-pilot position in July 1952 due to lack of discipline and loss of direction. He had returned to his captain position last February despite serious shortcomings in piloting techniques. The low position of the sun was considered as a contributory factor.
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