On September 29, 1941, a Tupolev ANT-4 (TB-1 & G-1) (registration CCCP-N289) operated by Polyarnaya Aviatsiya was involved in an aviation accident near Snezhnoye, Russia during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Poor judgement by the pilot, exacerbated by glassy water conditions that hindered visual assessment during landing. 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.
A floatplane crashed and sank in the Anadyr River near Snezhnoye after a hard landing in glassy conditions, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members.
What happened
The incident occurred during a landing attempt on the Anadyr River in the vicinity of Snezhnoye. The aircraft was operating under challenging visual conditions described as "mirror" or glassy water, which likely obscured surface details and depth cues. During the approach and touchdown, the pilot struggled to manage the descent and contact with the water surface. The floatplane struck the river hard, causing it to lose its floats immediately upon impact. Following this structural failure, the aircraft plunged into the water and sank at a depth of approximately 8 to 9 metres. All four crew members aboard were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the crash primarily to poor judgement by the pilot. The specific environmental condition of glassy water was identified as a significant contributing factor, as it made it difficult to accurately judge height and speed during the critical landing phase.
Probable cause
Poor judgement by the pilot, exacerbated by glassy water conditions that hindered visual assessment during landing.
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