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Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Mutoray

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1986
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32373
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1G100-24
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mutoray
Krasnoyarsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from the Mutoray Airstrip. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Stalled on takeoff because overloaded.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Berlin: 72 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1986 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65795
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minsk - Prague - Berlin
MSN:
63145
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
SU892
Location:
Berlin-Schönefeld
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
73
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
72
Aircraft flight hours:
12658
Aircraft flight cycles:
8482
Circumstances:
Originally, flight SU892 was a direct service from Minsk to Berlin but due to poor weather at Berlin, the flight was diverted to the alternate Airport of Prague-Ruzyne. Following an uneventful flight from Prague, the crew started the descent to Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. At that time, weather conditions were marginal with limited visibility to 900 meters and a ceiling down to 60 meters. After the crew was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 25L, ATC turned on the runway 25R lighting system while informing all crews that runway 25R was closed to traffic due to work in progress. These transmissions being done in english, a misinterpretation of the situation conducted the crew to continue the approach to runway 25R. On short final, ATC realized the wrong position of the aircraft and instructed the crew to make a left turn to reach the runway 25L approach path. With flaps down at 38° and at a speed of 263 km/h, the captain initiated a left turn and descended below the glide. With a rate of descent of 7 meters per second, the aircraft struck tree tops then stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 3 km short of runway threshold, bursting into flames. Twelve passengers were seriously injured while 70 other people were killed. Two weeks later, two of the survivors died from their injuries.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the instructions transmitted by ATC on short final were unexpected by the flight crew who took wrong decisions. Because another aircraft of the Hungarian national carrier Malev was also approaching Berlin Airport, ATC messages were transmitted in english on the frequency, and certain elements of the different messages were misinterpreted by the different members of the Soviet crew. On this point, the following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Absence of cross checks and mutual controls in the various actions,
- Difficulties to understand the english phraseology,
- Lack of knowledge and experience in applying the rules related to radio transmission during international flights.
Considering the situation, the captain should have taken the decision to initiate a go-around procedure, all safety conditions being clearly not met.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Talon

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1986
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-92846
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G52-38
YOM:
1965
Location:
Talon
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Talon, the crew encountered below weather minimums but attempted to land when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 near Hurhe

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1986
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-56370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G179-60
YOM:
1978
Location:
Hurhe
Ömnögovi
Country:
Mongolia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft collided with a bird that went stuck in the engine air intake. The engine lost power and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power following bird strike.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Kuybyshev: 70 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1986 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-134
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65766
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sverdlovsk – Kuybyshev – Grozny
MSN:
62327
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
SU6502
Location:
Kuybyshev
Samara oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
87
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
70
Aircraft flight hours:
16154
Aircraft flight cycles:
9689
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, the crew started the approach to Kuybyshev-Kurumoch Airport. For training purposes, the captain decided to attempt a 'blind' approach and closed the window blinds on his side, which was prohibited in such conditions. At decision height, he decided to continue and failed to realize the configuration was wrong. The aircraft passed over the runway 15 threshold and one second prior to impact, the flight engineer opened the window blinds but this was too late. At a speed of 280 km/h and with a rate of descent of 5 meters per second, the aircraft struck the runway surface with a positive acceleration of 4,8 g. This caused the left wing to be partially torn off. Out of control, the aircraft continued for about 214 meters then came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. 64 occupants were killed while 30 others were injured, some seriously. Within few hours, six of the survivors died from their injuries.
Probable cause:
Decision of the captain to attempt a 'blind' approach in violation of the published procedures. He also decided to continue the approach after he passed the decision height and failed to initiate a go-around maneuver. There was no reaction or any correction from the rest of the flying crew.

Crash of a Let L-410MU off Ust-Maya: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1986 at 1414 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-67264
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Yakutsk – Ust-Maya – Allakh-Yun
MSN:
78 09 05
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
SU763
Location:
Ust-Maya
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on the gravel Airstrip at Ust-Maya Airstrip, after passing V1, the left turbocompressor lost power then the engine stopped, 1,8 second before V2 speed. Power on the right engine was increased till 96% and the crew continued the takeoff procedure. Liftoff was completed at a speed of 160 km/h then the aircraft climbed to a height of 50 meters and entered a left turn. Slowly, the altitude dropped and the aircraft eventually crashed in the Aldan River about 270 meters offshore. The wreckage sank and was found 31 hours later. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the left engine was the consequence of errors on part of the crew who failed to follow the pre-takeoff engine checklist. The aircraft's speed at takeoff was insufficient and the engine failure occurred at a critical stage of the takeoff procedure, causing a loss of controllability after liftoff. During climbout, the speed decreased because the crew did not raise the landing gear due to high workload caused by an emergency situation.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Tiksi

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1986 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02592
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Taymylyr - Tiksi
MSN:
1G122-03
YOM:
1971
Location:
Tiksi
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Taymylyr at 1247LT on a special flight to Tiksi, carrying seven passengers, two crew and a load of 192 kilos of various goods on behalf of Yakutsgeofizik. All flight was completed at an altitude of 350 meters and when the crew initiated the descent to Tiksi Airport, he encountered limited visibility due to haze. The aircraft struck the side of a hill (410 meters high) located about 20 km north of the airport, near the Lena River mouth. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were rescued.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Jraber: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1986 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-05662
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yerevan - Kamo
MSN:
1 56 473 02
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
SU157E
Location:
Jraber
Kotayk
Country:
Armenia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
15627
Aircraft flight cycles:
19920
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Yerevan-Erebuni Airport at 1047LT on a cargo flight to Kamo, carrying two pilots and a load of 140 kilos of mail and various goods. At that time, weather conditions were considered as good. Six minutes later, the crew informed ATC about his position at an altitude of 1,800 meters and was cleared to climb to 2,400 meters. Then the aircraft entered a right turn and struck the south slope of Mt Gantusar (2,299 meters high) about two km northeast of Jraber. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,915 meters and both pilots were killed. It was reported that the visibility at the accident site was about 60 meters due to thick fog.
Probable cause:
It was determined that weather conditions deteriorated en route with limited visibility due to foggy conditions, and the crew took the decision to continue the flight in below minimums visibility instead of returning to Yerevan Airport.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Keperveyem

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1986
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-91748
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G37-25
YOM:
1963
Location:
Keperveyem
Chukotka okrug
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed near Keperveyem after the crew failed to follow the minimum prescribed altitude.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Saydy

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1986
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-44685
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moma - Saydy
MSN:
1G88-12
YOM:
1967
Location:
Saydy
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful cargo flight from Moma, the crew was approaching Saydy and was unable to locate the landing area due to thick fog. The copilot suggested to return but the captain elected to land. He continued the approach and descended in the fog when, at an altitude of 100 meters, while completing a slight turn to the left, the aircraft struck a hill and crashed. Both occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Decision of the captain to continue the descent in below-minimum weather conditions. The crew failed to establish visual contact with the ground.
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