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Crash of an Antonov AN-10A in Rus'ka Lozova: 122 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1972 at 1153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-10
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-11215
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv
MSN:
0 4 025 02
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
SU1491
Location:
Rus'ka Lozova
Kharkiv oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
115
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
122
Aircraft flight hours:
15483
Aircraft flight cycles:
11105
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Vnukovo Airport at an altitude of 7,200 meters, the crew was cleared to approach Kharkiv-Osnova Airport and to descent to 1,500 meters. While approaching at a speed of 400-500 km/h with a rate of descent of 6 meters per second, the airplane lost its both wings, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Rus'ka Lozova, about 25 km north of Kharkiv-Osnova Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 122 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a structural failure of the center section lower panel caused the failure of both wings due to fatigue cracks. The rate of descent and the presence of atmospheric turbulences were considered as contributing factors. Investigations revealed that this portion of the aircraft could not be inspected by technicians during a maintenance process due to a faulty conception of the aircraft, thus the fatigue fractures could not be detected in time. Following this tragedy, the Antonov AN-10 would not be operated anymore in passenger service.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Kirensk

Date & Time: May 12, 1972
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-50506
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G88-33
YOM:
1967
Location:
Kirensk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crash landed in a field near Kirensk. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Devyaternya: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1972 at 1746 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-45292
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Devyaternya - Devyaternya
MSN:
1G46-01
YOM:
1964
Location:
Devyaternya
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:
4891
Aircraft flight cycles:
18487
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a crop-spraying mission for the kolkhoz (collective farm) of Karl Marx located in Devyaternya (Argyz district of Tatarstan). He decided to takeoff from an area facing a forest and after liftoff, while climbing, the airplane struck birch trees (24 meters high) and crashed in flames 1,162 meters from the departure point. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed. Weather conditions were considered as good at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew took the wrong decision in taking off facing the wooded area. The presence of orographic waves was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Poltava: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-25604
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
1G61-30
YOM:
1965
Location:
Poltava
Poltava oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During crop-spraying operations in the Poltava region, the intoxicated pilot performed unauthorized manoeuvres at low height over a village when he lost control of the aircraft that collided with a building and was completely destroyed. The pilot and the sole passenger (an aircraft mechanic) were killed.
Probable cause:
Intoxicated pilot.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Bratsk: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1972 at 2334 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87778
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Irkutsk - Bratsk
MSN:
9 04 03 14
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
SU608
Location:
Bratsk
Irkutsk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Aircraft flight hours:
1667
Aircraft flight cycles:
2249
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Irkutsk-Magan Airport at 2229LT bound to the north, cruising at an altitude of 6,000 meters. Weather conditions en route were good. While descending to Bratsk Airport, the crew was informed about the last weather bulletin with no precipitations and a visibility of 50 km. However, during the night approach, weather conditions deteriorated with heavy mixed rain/snow showers and a visibility limited to one km. On short final, the airplane lost height then struck trees and crashed in flames 225 meters further, about 1,250 meters short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that ATC in Bratsk transmitted to the crew a wrong weather bulletin that was referring to weather conditions at 2315LT. Unfortunately, ATC attempted without success to obtain an updated weather briefing and transmitted inaccurate information to the crew. On final, heavy snow/rain showers associated with downdraft and unfavorable winds caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash. The assumption that the crew inadvertently selected the reverse thrust during final approach was not ruled out.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Glinoye: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1972 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-49306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chernivtsi - Odessa
MSN:
1G11-20
YOM:
1961
Location:
Glinoye
Edineț
Country:
Moldova
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9044
Aircraft flight cycles:
33871
Circumstances:
On a flight from Chernivtsi to Odessa, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south by 15 km in poor visibility and rain. It entered an area near Glinoye (Grigoriopol district of Moldova) where two radio masts were located (only one of them was indicated on the charts, but with wrong coordinates). The pilot was able to avoid the first mast (350 meters) but not the second. At a height of 200 meters, the single engine airplane collided struck the second one (260 meters high), caught fire and crashed 280 meters further on in a field of the sovkhoz (state farm) Karmanovo. All 3 crew and the sole passenger were killed.
Probable cause:
Weather information transmitted to the crew did not reflect the reality and the pilot encountered low ceiling and low visibility due to rain falls. It was established that the antenna struck by the airplane was not properly marked and its coordinates were wrong as its real position was 35 km to the east.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Vyezdnoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1972 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01506
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Vyezdnoye - Vyezdnoye
MSN:
1G79-47
YOM:
1967
Location:
Arzamas
Nizhny Novgorod 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:
3117
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying flight and was completing the 30th sortie of the day. After making a 180 turn, the crew was facing the sun and flying at a height of 20 meters when the airplane contacted high voltage power cables that torn off the tail. Out of control, the airplane crashed upside down into a water filled ravine located 258 meters further. The wreckage was found 500 meters southwest of Vyezdnoye. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the minimum safe altitude for such operation.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2T in Yukagir: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1972 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-44937
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yukagir - Nizhneyansk
MSN:
1G25-09
YOM:
1963
Location:
Yukagir
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
7197
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way back from Yukagir to Nizhneyansk with a crew of two and two passengers, investigators. They were returning to Nizhneyansk after they completed investigations following an incident that involved another AN-2 registered CCCP-13704 few days ago. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 60 meters with flaps up, the airplane banked left to an angle of 45° then stalled and struck the ground. Out of control, it crashed in a snow covered field and came to rest. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. At the time of the accident, wind was gusting from 110° at 54 km/h with an OAT of -15° C.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew forgot to position the flaps down for takeoff.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Vorochilovgrad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1972 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-42621
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
1G40-22
YOM:
1963
Location:
Voroshilovgrad
Luhansk Oblast
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
9044
Aircraft flight cycles:
9242
Circumstances:
Parked at Voroshilovgrad Airport, the single engine aircraft was stolen by a pilot who decided to commit suicide due to marital problems. He took off alone and directed his aircraft into a 4-floor building where he was living (house # 10 in the 27th district of Voroshilovgrad). The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot was killed. The building was partially destroyed as well but no one was injured.
Probable cause:
Pilot suicide.

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

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-29380
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G79-11
YOM:
1967
Location:
Sterlitamak
Republic of Bashkortostan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered heavy icing conditions and crashed in a field located in Sterlitamak. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Icing.
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