Norilsk Cargo Flight Crash Due to Fuel Contamination (CCCP-12963)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence On the late evening of August 23, an aircraft departed Norilsk Airport on cargo flight SU22200 bound for Krasnoyarsk. The aircraft carried 10 passengers, a crew of six, and cargo consisting of six containers weighing a total of 1,920 kilograms. Approximately two hours and 18 minutes into the flight, while cruising at night at an altitude of 7,800 meters, all four engines failed simultaneously. The failure was attributed to fuel contamination. The crew declared an emergency and began a descent toward Yeniseysk Airport. During the approach, the aircraft experienced low speed and lost altitude. It struck tree tops and crashed in flames in hilly, wooded terrain located 17.9 kilometers short of the runway. ## Casualties Five passengers were seriously injured. Eleven other occupants were killed, including all six crew members. ## Official Findings The investigation determined that all four engines failed simultaneously because the fuel was contaminated with water. The refueling system at Norilsk Airport was reported to have been contaminated with water and had not been drained or controlled before use. Fuel samples collected at the crash site showed water and sediment concentrations between 37% and 88%. The report also noted that several passengers boarded without valid tickets and only with the captain's permission, in violation of published procedures.