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Polikarpov P-5 accident at Shengeldi, Kazakhstan, 30 Jan 1943 (CCCP-T1722)

Shengeldi, KazakhstanFlight

On January 30, 1943, a Polikarpov P-5 (registration CCCP-T1722) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Shengeldi, Kazakhstan in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot decided to continue the flight in poo visibility rather than to return to his departure point. Flying in clouds, he probably suffered a spatial disorientation then the control of the airplane that dove into the ground. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot decided to continue the flight in poo visibility rather than to return to his departure point. Flying in clouds, he probably suffered a spatial disorientation then the control of the airplane that dove into the ground.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot departed Tashkent Airport at 0726LT to ferry the airplane to Aktyubinsk for repairs. Before departure, he was instructed to return to Tashkent in case of poor weather conditions. After takeoff, flying between Tashkent and Shimkent, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. Flying in clouds, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a field in Shengeldi, some 68 km north northwest of Tashkent. The airplane impacted the ground at a speed of 260 km/h and was totally destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause (official findings): The pilot decided to continue the flight in poo visibility rather than to return to his departure point. Flying in clouds, he probably suffered a spatial disorientation then the control of the airplane that dove into the ground.

Related events

Same operator

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