Zaporizhia Oblast | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Zaporozhie Airport at 1257LT on a local training flight. About 11 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 metres in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC that he was losing height when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a 25-30° nose down attitude and a 6° left bank in a field located 20 km northwest of Zaporozhie Airport and 1,400 metres from the Novogupalovka Station. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to insufficient speed while the crew was practicing stabilizer trim change. The aircraft stalled due to poor piloting techniques and a probable wrong interpretation of the indicator airspeed value.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Zaporozhie

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87825

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Zaporozhie - Ternopol

MSN:

9 24 17 24

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was cleared of snow prior to departure but as it was snowing continuously, the aircraft was again covered by snow between the moment it was deiced and the takeoff procedure. During the takeoff roll in poor weather conditions (snowfall and poor visibility), the pilot-in-command started the rotation. The aircraft lifted off and climbed for few meters when the left wing dropped, causing the left main gear to struck the runway surface. The airplane landed back and the crew decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and the left wing collided with the building of a meteorological post located 25 metres behind the runway threshold. All 3 crew and 14 passengers escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was contaminated with snow during the takeoff procedure and that the stabs were positioned in a -5,9° angle instead of the prescribed -3,9°.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12 near Melitopol: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During a formation flight in restricted visibility the pilot, thinking that he passed the leading aircraft, decreased the flying speed to 300 km/h. Simultaneously his plane entered a wake vortex from the leading An-12. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all seven crew members.

Crash of an Avia 14P in Zaporozhie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-52002

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tbilisi - Rostov-on-Don - Zaporozhie

MSN:

018 602 111

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

SU2903

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

21213

Aircraft flight cycles:

22259

Circumstances:

The descent to Zaporozhie Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions but with a visibility estimated to 4 km, above the minima. On final approach, the airplane was not properly aligned on the glide and the captain failed to follow the instructions transmitted by ATC and the warnings from his navigator. Eventually, while at an altitude of 40 meters, he elected to make a go around, increased engine power and started a turn to the right but it was too late. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in a field located short of runway. A crew member and six passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The captain started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the glide at an insufficient altitude. He neglected several procedures, ATC instructions and other crew members warning until the airplane struck the ground and crashed. Poor flight crew coordination and communication was considered as a contributing factor. Weather conditions were marginal with limited visibility but above the minima.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24B in Preobrazhenka: 55 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1969 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-24

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-46248

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain

Schedule:

Lougansk-Dniepropetrovsk-Vinnitsa-Lvov

MSN:

77303206

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

SU826N

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

4557

Aircraft flight cycles:

4789

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Dnepropetrovsk Airport at 1547LT and its crew was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 5,100 meters. At 1558LT, the crew reported at 3,600 meters still climbing. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the propeller blade n°2 separated from the left engine and struck the fuselage, severing elevator and aileron control cables. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive until it struck the ground in a 45-50° nose down attitude and at a estimated speed of 500-550 km/h. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 55 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight caused by the detachment of the propeller blade n°2 on left engine that severed control cables. The loss of the propeller blade was the consequence of fatigue fracture (corrosion).