5 fatalities

Mi-8T Helicopter Accident in Khabarovsk Krai on August 15, 2015 (RA-22559)

бухта Онгачан, Тугуро-Чумиканский район, Хабаровский край

On August 15, 2015, a Ми-8 (registration RA-22559) operated by АО «Авиакомпания «Восток» was involved in an aviation accident near бухта Онгачан, Тугуро-Чумиканский район, Хабаровский край. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Причиной авиационного происшествия с вертолетом Ми-8Т RA-22559 явилось невыдерживание экипажем безопасных высот и скоростей полета при ухудшении метеорологических условий ниже установленных для полетов по ПВП, что привело к попаданию вертолета в режим… This summary draws on records from the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK)Primary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

On August 15, 2015, a Mi-8T helicopter (RA-22559) operated by Vostok Airlines crashed in the Tuguro-Chumikansky District of Khabarovsk Krai while on a commercial flight with 13 passengers and 3 crew members.

Accident Details

On August 15, 2015, a Mil Mi-8T helicopter with registration RA-22559, operated by JSC Vostok Airlines, experienced an accident in the Tuguro-Chumikansky District of Khabarovsk Krai. The helicopter was crewed by a commander, a co-pilot, and a flight engineer. The flight was a commercial charter carrying 13 passengers.

Flight Information

The flight was conducted under a charter contract (No. 4-307-15 dated August 8, 2015) between a private individual and Vostok Airlines. The planned route was Khabarovsk – imeni Poliny Osipenko – Ongachan Bay – imeni Poliny Osipenko – Khabarovsk. The flight request was submitted on August 14, 2015, by the airline's management to the Khabarovsk Regional Air Traffic Management Center.

Pre-Flight Preparations

Initial seasonal training for the crew was conducted on March 23, 2015, by the airline's management. The final pre-flight preparation began at 07:15 local time on August 15, 2015 (21:00 UTC on August 14, 2015) at Khabarovsk (MVL) aerodrome with a weather briefing. The crew received weather information for the departure airport (Khabarovsk MVL), the intermediate landing site imeni Poliny Osipenko, the alternate airport Khabarovsk (Novy), and en-route forecasts in GAMET format. The crew's medical check was performed on August 14, 2015, at Khabarovsk MVL airport between 21:00 and 21:30 local time. The departure was initially scheduled for 22:30 on August 14, 2015, but the actual departure time is not specified in the source.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Aug 2015 Ми-8 accident near бухта Онгачан, Тугуро-Чумиканский район, Хабаровский край?

On August 15, 2015, a Mi-8T helicopter (RA-22559) operated by Vostok Airlines crashed in the Tuguro-Chumikansky District of Khabarovsk Krai while on a commercial flight with 13 passengers and 3 crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Aug 2015 Ми-8 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Aug 2015 involved a Ми-8, registration RA-22559, operated by АО «Авиакомпания «Восток», at бухта Онгачан, Тугуро-Чумиканский район, Хабаровский край.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Причиной авиационного происшествия с вертолетом Ми-8Т RA-22559 явилось невыдерживание экипажем безопасных высот и скоростей полета при ухудшении метеорологических условий ниже установленных для полетов по ПВП, что привело к попаданию вертолета в режим «вихревого кольца» и столкновению с водной поверхностью.…