Polyarnaya Aviatsiya

Lisunov LI-2

On a flight from Nizhniye Kresty (now Cherski) to Pevek on a survey flight of the icy continent, the copilot decided to cut the route short when the captain was in the passenger cabin and overflew Cape Shelagski (469 meters). On approach to the cape, the aircraft was caught by strong downdraft and eventually struck the hill with the lower fuselage, was thrown up into the air again and eventually crashed into a large boulder and caught fire. Three crew members were rescued while seven others occupants were killed.

Lisunov LI-2

During the takeoff roll on a 750 meters long icy runway, while at a speed of 70-80 km/h, the left ski struck an irregularity on the ground. The airplane bounced, climbed to a height of 1,5-2 meters then stalled and crashed 300 meters farther. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Lisunov LI-2

The crew was completing an ambulance flight from Amderma to Ust-Kara to pick up a patient back to Amderma. After decending successively to 600 meters and 300 meters in marginal weather conditions (limited visibility to 4 km in rain and snow, low clouds), the pilot decided to continue the descent despite he could not clearly locate the runway. On short final, the airplane struck the snowy ground and plunged in a deep snow layer (60 cm), slid for several yards and came to rest 250 meters short of runway threshold. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ilyushin II-14

On the leg from Mys Kosistyy to Khatanga of a flight from Pevek to Moscow during the polar night, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the left by 38 km. The crew descended prematurely and the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill (340 metres high) located about 65 km from the Khatanga Airport. It came to rest upside down after some 400 metres and caught fire. The rescue teams arrived on the scene a day later, on December 31. A passenger was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants were killed.

Antonov AN-2

Crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Igarka, killing all three crew members.

Lisunov LI-2

At Mirny Ice Station, the crew was ready for takeoff and taxied to the runway when the airplane failed to enter the runway, skidded and got stuck on the edge of the runway. There were no injuries among the occupants and several attempts were made to salvage the airplane but without success. The ice broke out and the airplane drifted down.

Lisunov LI-2

On a flight from Komsomolskaya Ice Station to Mirny Ice Station, the crew forgot to switch over the fuel tank selector so both engines flamed out. The aircraft crash landed on the ice-shield some 80 km from the abandoned Vostok-1 Ice Station, some 3,000 meters above sea level. There were no casualties. The exact date of the occurrence remains unknown (sometime in February 1958).

Lisunov LI-2

On a flight from the area of Mount Brown to the Mirny Ice Station, the pilot lifted off at low speed and retracted the gear too early, causing the aircraft to stall and crash. There were no casualties. The accident occurred sometime in February 1958 (exact date unknown).

Antonov AN-2

The crew was engaged in a geophysical mission in the Chukotka okrug. While approaching a mountainous area, the airplane was too low and the pilot elected to gain height. In a steep angle, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a rocky terrain. All occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Beriev Be-6

While cruising under VFR at an altitude of 2,100 meters, the right engine failed and caught fire. The crew elected to extinguish the fire but without success. Shortly later, the engine detached and struck the right tail, causing the aircraft to enter a spin and to crash in a steppe located about 55 km west of Mys Kamenny. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 6 crew members were killed.