Fatal aircraft accident at Udskoye Airport

9 fatalities • Udskoye, Russia • Takeoff (climb)

A small aircraft crashed into a wooded area near a residence shortly after departing Udskoye Airport, resulting in nine fatalities.

What happened

Shortly after departing from Udskoye Airport, an aircraft entered a left-hand turn while climbing through an altitude of approximately 100 meters. During this maneuver, the plane experienced a sudden loss of altitude and impacted a forested area situated roughly 200 meters from a nearby dwelling. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. There were nine fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified several critical contributing factors. The primary cause was determined to be a loss of control resulting from an aggressive turn performed at a low altitude while the aircraft was subjected to wind gusts of 15 meters per second. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot was intoxicated during the flight.

Further findings indicated significant procedural failures by the crew, including a failure to follow established flight preparation protocols and an improperly managed departure. The incident was further complicated by the presence of an unauthorized passenger on board and the crew's failure to establish communication with ground personnel following takeoff.

Probable cause

The pilot's intoxication and execution of a sharp turn at low altitude during gusty conditions led to a loss of control.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1972-11-05 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Udskoye, Russia?

A small aircraft crashed into a wooded area near a residence shortly after departing Udskoye Airport, resulting in nine fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 1972-11-05 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 9 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1972-11-05 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-32585, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Udskoye, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's intoxication and execution of a sharp turn at low altitude during gusty conditions led to a loss of control.

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