Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32325

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kuberganya – Belaya Gora

MSN:

1G97-37

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

SU576

Location:

Kuberganya

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At liftoff from Kuberganya Airport, the single engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled, struck the ground and crash landed in a snow covered field, coming to rest 171 meters past the runway end. All 15 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist. Investigations reported that the flaps were deployed at an inappropriate angle of 8° instead of the prescribed 30°. At liftoff, the copilot realized the mistake and reduced the engine power to abandon the takeoff procedure but the captain took over controls and decided to continue the takeoff. Thus, the poor crew coordination was considered as a contributing factor.

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

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1988 at 1336 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32612

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Srednekolympsk – Orlovo

MSN:

1G219-11

YOM:

1986

Location:

Srednekolymsk

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Srednekolympsk Airport at 1147LT on a schedule service to Orlovo, carrying 12 passengers and two pilots. Weather conditions were excellent with a visibility of 50 km. About 19 minutes into the flight, weather conditions deteriorated with fog and a visibility below 1,000 meters. Instead of returning to Srednekolympsk, the crew decided to continue and reduced his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, without success. During 46 minutes, the crew circled in the area of Orlovo to locate the landing field without success and eventually decided to return to Srednekolympsk. On approach of Srednekolympsk Airport, the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed 4 km short of runway. All 14 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The crew failed to return to the departure airport when weather conditions worsened with a visibility below minimums and the fuel quantity was insufficient for all flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP near Batagay: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1988 at 2258 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-11418

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tiksi - Batagay - Yakutsk

MSN:

7 3 447 05

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

SU40066

Location:

Batagay

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16419

Aircraft flight cycles:

9041

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Tiksi to Irkutsk with an intermediate stop in Batagay, carrying six crew members and a load of 15,5 tons of apples. The descent to Batagay Airport was initiated by night and marginal weather conditions. Thus, the visibility was limited and the crew was unable to establish a visual contact with the ground or the airport. For unknown reasons, the crew and especially the captain failed to follow the approach procedures and preferred to follow a schema dedicated for VFR approach only. This caused the aircraft to descent below the minimum prescribed altitude when the GPWS warning sounded in the cockpit. The captain disengaged the GPWS alarm system and decided to continue the descent when, at a speed of 355 km/h, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 25 km from the Batagay Airport. In a right bank of 22°, the aircraft crashed and disintegrated in a snow covered ground. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Poor approach planning and wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who continued the descent below the minimum descent altitude. After the GPWS warning sounded, the captain deactivated the system and continued the approach without any visual contact with the ground or the airport. In such conditions, the crew should initiate a go-around procedure.

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

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-84657

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Khandyga – Tompo – Topolinoye

MSN:

1G191-35

YOM:

1981

Location:

Tompo

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Tompo, en route to Topolinoye, the engine emitted a thick white smoke then failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the left main gear collided with rocks on the bank of the Tompo River. Our of control, the aircraft cartwheeled and crashed. All five occupants were rescued, two of them were injured, including the copilot.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the carburetor got frosted after the crew forgot to activate the engine anti-ice system. Analyzes of the engine showed marks on the forward part of the compressor blades, indicating splinters of ice resulting from icing conditions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2P near Kystatyam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1988 at 0950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-01788

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Zhigansk - Zhigansk

MSN:

1G107-35

YOM:

1969

Location:

Kystatyam

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Zhigansk at 0506LT on a survey flight over the Dzhardzhan River to identify possible pollution in a water protection program. The mission was conducted over the water at a height of 100 meters, sometime down to 50 meters to inspect boats. En route, the captain asked the copilot to make some calculation for a new route to Sangar. Doing so, the copilot's attention was not focused on the flight and the captain also got distracted, leaving the aircraft descending until it struck the surface of the water. The aircraft crashed and sank. Both pilots and a passenger were able to evacuate the cabin while the second passenger drowned.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight after the crew got distracted from flight operations.

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

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-01648

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1G82-42

YOM:

1967

Location:

Saskylakh

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reason.

Crash of a Let L-410MU in Yakutsk

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1987 at 2016 LT

Type of aircraft:

Let L-410

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-67249

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yakutsk - Yakutsk

MSN:

77 08 15

YOM:

1977

Location:

Yakutsk-Magan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (two student pilots and one instructor) was completing a local training flight at Yakutsk-Magan Airport. Ready for takeoff, the crew increased engine power to 85% then released the brakes. After a course of less than 20 meters, the airplane 'sank' on its left after the brakes block of the left main gear broke off. Takeoff procedure was abandoned and the aircraft stopped on its left side and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped uninjured.

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

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-02763

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vitim – Tolon – Innyaly

MSN:

1G125-41

YOM:

1971

Location:

Innyaly

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On short final to Innyaly, at a height of one meter, the aircraft 'floated' then rolled to the left, causing the left main gear to struck the ground 150 meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft then rolled for about 250 meters on a wet surface, veered off to the right, went through a wood fence and came to rest with its left gear torn off. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on short final after the crew encountered windshear at low height. It was determined that the wind direction and component changed at the last moment and it was too late for the crew to initiate a go-around procedure. The runway surface was wet and slippery, which was considered as a contributing factor.

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

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-40556

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Site:

Schedule:

Batagay - Lazo

MSN:

1G84-09

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

SU347D

Location:

Lazo

Country:

Region: