Aircraft accident near Mount Brown, Antarctica

No fatalities • Mirny Ice Station (Queen Mary Land), Antarctica • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft crashed during takeoff while traveling from Mount Brown to Mirny Ice Station in February 1958.

What happened

In February 1958, an aviation accident occurred during a flight operating between the vicinity of Mount Brown and the Mirny Ice Station. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft departed the ground at a low airspeed. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot performed the retraction of the landing gear before the plane had achieved sufficient velocity. This action led to an aerodynamic stall, resulting in the subsequent crash.

There were no fatalities or injuries reported as a result of this incident.

Findings

Investigations into the event concluded that the primary factor was the premature retraction of the undercarriage during the rotation phase. The combination of low takeoff speed and the early movement of the landing gear prevented the aircraft from maintaining stable flight.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by retracting the landing gear too early while the aircraft was still at a low airspeed during takeoff.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1958-02-15 Lisunov LI-2 accident near Mirny Ice Station (Queen Mary Land), Antarctica?

An aircraft crashed during takeoff while traveling from Mount Brown to Mirny Ice Station in February 1958.

Were there any fatalities in the 1958-02-15 Lisunov LI-2 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1958-02-15 involved a Lisunov LI-2, registration CCCP-N496, operated by Polyarnaya Aviatsiya, at Mirny Ice Station (Queen Mary Land), Antarctica.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by retracting the landing gear too early while the aircraft was still at a low airspeed during takeoff.

Loading the flight search…