Emergency landing of aircraft near Deputatsky due to navigational error

No fatalities • Deputatsky, Russia • Flight

An aircraft performing a multi-stop flight in Russia ran out of fuel and crash-landed near Deputatsky after deviating from its intended route.

What happened

A special flight was being conducted through several stops, beginning in Keperveem and proceeding via Chersky and Chokurdakh before the final destination of Deputatsky. Following departure from Chokurdakh, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions which led to a loss of navigational orientation for the crew. This resulted in the flight path drifting approximately 110 km away from the intended trajectory.

As the onboard fuel supply was exhausted, the crew initiated an emergency landing procedure. The aircraft subsequently crash-landed roughly 13 km from Deputatsky. While the impact caused the airframe to be damaged beyond repair, all three crew members managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the incident revealed that the primary reason for the deviation was a failure by the crew to accurately account for wind components during the leg from Chokurdakh to Deputatsky. This error caused the flight duration to extend by 2 hours and 22 minutes beyond the original plan. Consequently, the insufficient fuel reserves left the crew unable to complete the flight as scheduled, necessitating the emergency descent.

Probable cause

The crew's failure to properly calculate wind drift led to a significant route deviation and an extended flight time that exhausted the aircraft's fuel reserves.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1981-12-18 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Deputatsky, Russia?

An aircraft performing a multi-stop flight in Russia ran out of fuel and crash-landed near Deputatsky after deviating from its intended route.

Were there any fatalities in the 1981-12-18 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1981-12-18 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-92858, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Deputatsky, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew's failure to properly calculate wind drift led to a significant route deviation and an extended flight time that exhausted the aircraft's fuel reserves.

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