Polikarpov Po-2 accident at Ostrovskaya, Russia, 3 Dec 1942 (CCCP-L7991)
On December 3, 1942, a Polikarpov Po-2 (registration CCCP-L7991) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Ostrovskaya, Russia in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors: - Deterioration of the weather conditions in flight with heavy snow falls and low visibility. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors: - Deterioration of the weather conditions in flight with heavy snow falls and low visibility. - The late decision of the pilot to return to his departure point after the weather deteriorated. - The Squadron Leader cleared the pilot to takeoff based on the actual weather conditions at the departure and arrival points, without analyzing the situation as a whole.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The pilot departed Burluk on a communication flight to Olkhovka. En route, weather conditions worsened and his decision to return to Burluk was taken too late. In heavy snow falls, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Ostrovskaya. The pilot was killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was less than 15 metres with strong winds and heavy snow falls.
Probable cause (official findings): The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors: - Deterioration of the weather conditions in flight with heavy snow falls and low visibility. - The late decision of the pilot to return to his departure point after the weather deteriorated. - The Squadron Leader cleared the pilot to takeoff based on the actual weather conditions at the departure and arrival points, without analyzing the situation as a whole.