Ürümqi - Baku
Flight / Schedule
Ürümqi - Baku
Aircraft
Boeing 707Registration
4K-401
MSN
19584
Year of Manufacture
1967
Operator
Azerbaijan Airlines - AZAL AirlinesDate
November 30, 1995 at 07:10 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Baku Absheron
Region
Asia • Azerbaijan
Coordinates
40.3744°, 49.8565°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 30, 1995 at 07:10 PM, Ürümqi - Baku experienced a crash involving Boeing 707, operated by Azerbaijan Airlines - AZAL Airlines, with the event recorded near Baku Absheron.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. After takeoff from Ürümqi Airport, while on a cargo flight to Baku, the crew encountered technical problems with the left main gear that remained down. The crew decided to continue to Baku in such configuration. On approach to Baku-Bina Airport by night, the captain contacted ATC and was cleared to proceed to a low pass to check the undercarriage. Following the low pass, the crew initiated a turn to the left and followed a circuit for a second approach. While flying at a relative low altitude, all four engines suffered a loss of power. The aircraft lost height, collided with light poles on a bridge and crashed in a field located 9 km from the airport. Four crew members were seriously injured and two others were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration 4K-401, MSN 19584, year of manufacture 1967.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.3744°, 49.8565°.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
2
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
After takeoff from Ürümqi Airport, while on a cargo flight to Baku, the crew encountered technical problems with the left main gear that remained down. The crew decided to continue to Baku in such configuration. On approach to Baku-Bina Airport by night, the captain contacted ATC and was cleared to proceed to a low pass to check the undercarriage. Following the low pass, the crew initiated a turn to the left and followed a circuit for a second approach. While flying at a relative low altitude, all four engines suffered a loss of power. The aircraft lost height, collided with light poles on a bridge and crashed in a field located 9 km from the airport. Four crew members were seriously injured and two others were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
4
Fatality Rate
33.3%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Ürümqi - Baku
Operator
Azerbaijan Airlines - AZAL AirlinesFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Asia • Azerbaijan
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Dobrolet
Kalinin K-4
Following an uneventful flight from Tiflis (Tbilisi), the crew initiated the descent to Baku at dusk. On final, in total obscurity, the airplane was too low when it collided with a telegraphic pole and crashed one km from the airport. The mechanic survived while three other occupants were killed.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Kalinin K-5
The aircraft departed Baku on a regular service to Tiflis (Tbilisi), carrying three passengers and two crew members. En route to Ganzhda and Yevlakh, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. He reduced his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground and followed the railway line. Approaching Göyçay, at a height below 30 metres, he realized he was facing trees so he initiated a sharp turn to the right when the aircraft impacted poplar trees. The right wing was partially torn off and the aircraft crashed. A female passenger was injured while four other occupants were killed.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Tupolev ANT-35 (ANT-35bis & PS-35)
The crew left Baku-Bina Airport at 1245LT on a flight to Tbilisi. Fifteen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters in clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the city of Shemakha, just above the Dzheirankechmaz River. The passenger and the copilot were injured while all other crew members were killed. The pilot died from his injuries a day later.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle
On the leg from Hajigabul to Tbilisi of a route proving flight from Moscow-Vnukovo to Tbilisi when the crew decided to land at Yevlakh (Azerbaijan) due to an oil leak on the left engine. But the "Exactor" hydraulic control system of the propellers failed due to a design fault so that propeller pitch increased and the propeller thrust decreased, making it impossible to reach Yevlakh Airfield. The crew made a forced landing near Yevlakh and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair as the tail broke off. All 4 crew members and 3 passengers were slightly injured.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Lisunov LI-2
The crew left Baku-Bina Airport at 0150LT for a two hours and a half training mission in the region of Baku. While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 meters, the aircraft caught fire, went out of control and plunged into the Caspian Sea off Baku. Some debris were found on a beach north of the capital city two days later but no trace of the wreckage nor the seven crew member was found.
Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines
Lisunov LI-2
The aircraft and its crew were dispatched from Baku-Zabrat Airport to the south (125 km south of Baku) to complete a night training program. While approaching Banke Airstrip, at a height of 100 meters, the pilot in command made a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.