Lisunov LI-2

Oleg Lyakishev

After takeoff from Moscow-Myashkovo Airport runway 06, while climbing, the left engine failed. The aircraft lost height then struck the roof of a house and crashed in the residential area of Zaozerye located 2,5 km from the airport, three minutes after takeoff. Two occupants were seriously injured while three others were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries, thus a passenger was the only survivor. This model was the last LI-2 airworthy in the world.

MAP - Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti - Minaviaprom

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed back onto the runway, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

MAP - Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti - Minaviaprom

The crew encountered turbulences in flight and decided to continue at a relative low altitude of 290 metres. After four hours of flight, fuel reserves were low and the left engine started to misrunning. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing when, at a height of 45 metres, the aircraft struck five telephone steel cables with a diameter of 4,3 mm. The airplane stalled and crashed on the shore of the Kama River. All four crew members were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The airplane departed Ulan-Ude at 0700LT on a cargo flight to Ufa with intermediate stops in Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Petropavl, Kurgan and Chelyabinsk, carrying five crew members, three passengers and a load of 663 kg of various goods. About 20 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 2,400 meters, a passenger announced to the crew that a fire erupted in the rear part of the cabin. Smoke spread in the cabin and the cockpit and as the crew was unable to extinguish the fire, the captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a prairie. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in flames in an open field located 4 km from the village of Kharat. All eight occupants escaped while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. 40 hours later, a female passenger died from her injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

After a takeoff distance of 430 meters completed in 26 seconds, the pilot-in-command initiated the rotation at a speed of 120 km/h. The airplane continued to climb when, at a height of 10 meters, the left engine failed. The airplane continued to climb until a height of 50 meters when it banked left to an angle of 80° then stalled and crashed at a speed of 170 km/h not far from the runway end. While all six passengers were injured, all three crew members were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed while the right engine lost power. The aircraft's speed dropped to 70 km/h when, at a height of 50 meters, it stalled and crashed in an open field located about 3 km from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The airplane was completing a ferry flight from Kotlas to Voronezh with two passengers and a crew of five on board. The flight was operated at an altitude of 1,500 meters from Kotlas to Kirov and after passing Kirov, the crew was cleared to climb to 1,800 meters. At 1056, the crew was instructed for heading 219° when nine minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an uninhabited area located northwest of Sovetsk. The wreckage was found in the afternoon. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The airplane departed the Polar Station SP-21 in the early morning on a flight to the North Pole (Arctic region) with six crew members and three scientists (hydrologists) on board, and was used for communications with Soviet submarines cruising in the Arctic zone. The crew found a suitable area to land located about 500 km north of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, NWT. After landing, the scientists proceeded to ice inspection and it was reported that the ice thickness was 47 cm, which was considered as insufficient to leave the aircraft parked for a long period. The decision was taken to leave the area to find another one when the left ski went through the ice, followed shortly later by the right ski. The aircraft was blocked into the ice and impossible to move. Due to the presence of sensible equipments on board, it was decided to destroy the airplane that partially sank. All nine occupants were evacuated two days later by the crew of an Antonov AN-2.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Damaged beyond repair on takeoff from Leshukonskoye with the MTOW exceeded and the center of gravity being out of the envelope (too far aft). Crashed shortly after liftoff and came to rest into a ravine. All occupants survived while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed by the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were injured.

Aviant - Kievskii Aviatsionnye Zavod

The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Leningrad to Kiev with an intermediate stop in Minsk-1, carrying a load of 1,151 kg of glue. Following a normal takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command started the rotation at a speed of 130 km/h. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft had a tendency to veer left so the pilot compensate to the right when the tail wheel struck the ground 35 meters to the left of the runway and was torn off. The airplane continued for dozen meters then crashed into the snow some 245 meters to the left of the runway. All six occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Few hours later, the radio operator died from his injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Antarctica in December 1968 (exact date unknown). The aircraft was damaged and later destroyed by a storm.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew completed a cargo flight from Krasnoyarsk to Yeniseysk and was now returning to Krasnoyarsk on a ferry flight. The approach to Krasnoyarsk Airport was started 20 minutes after sunset. In limited visibility, the crew failed to realize he was flying at an insufficient altitude. Some 55 meters before the middle marker, the airplane struck tree tops then sank and struck successively a telegraphic pole, a wooden fence and a hangar before crashing in flames 85 meters after the middle marker. Three crew members were killed while the radio navigator was seriously injured. Three days later, the only survivor died from his injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Takhtamygda to Kyzyl-Syr with one passenger on board. While cruising in clouds, the left engine failed. The captain decided to divert to Aldan for an emergency landing. On approach, the crew was unable to lower the gear so the captain decided to make a go-around. Due to the presence of mountains all around the airport, the captain decided to make a sharp turn to the left. From a height of 15-20 meters, the airplane banked left then stalled and crashed in a snow covered field located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On a flight from Tselinograd (now Astana) to Karaganda when the elevator control failed after touchdown (it had already caused problems during the flight). Aircraft lifted off again, reached a height of some 10-15 metres when it banked left to an angle of 60°. Due to critical angle of attack, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames onto the runway. Two crew and 7 passengers were killed while all other 25 occupants were seriously injured.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On approach to Chersky Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility. Three attempts to land were abandoned and the crew was forced to make a go around at each time. During the fourth approach, the aircraft was too low and crash landed on the icy Kolyma River, about 3,5 km from the runway threshold. All occupants (5 crew members and an undetermined number of passengers) were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

TAROM - Transporturile Aeriene Române

En route from Bra<U+0219>ov to Constanta, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Lotrioara Valley. All 24 occupants were killed, among them 2 Austrian citizens.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was engaged in a local training mission out from Ramenskoye Airport, southeast of Moscow, carrying 3 instructors, five student-pilots and one passenger aged 15. While cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters in clouds, the aircraft encountered turbulences when control was lost. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and struck the ground in a 70° nose-down attitude in a field located 12 km south of Ramenskoye Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. Parts of the left wing were found about 400 meters from the main fuselage.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

While in cruising altitude over a mountainous area, the airplane just past over a pass when it encountered severe turbulences and downdrafts. Elements of the left wing tip and the tail were sheared off and the airplane went out of control, plunged into the earth and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of mountain at an altitude of 1,760 meters. The wreckage was found few hours later 80 meters below the summit and all 31 occupants were killed. Up to date, this was the worst accident involving a LI-2.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Shortly after takeoff from Darvaza Airport in excellent weather conditions, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left to an angle of 30°, nosed down and crashed in flames in a desert area located 4 km from the runway end, about 600 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew (four crew members and two hydrologists) was involved in an ice reconnaissance mission over the krai of Krasnoyarsk. Following a departure from Tiksi Airport, the crew proceeded to the control of the ice located along the shore of the Laptev Sea then the Yana and Kolyma Indigirka estuaries and eventually the mouth of the Lana River. En route, weather conditions worsened and the visibility dropped due to fog. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and to descend through the clouds when the airplane struck the top of a hill and crash landed 100 meters further and a snow covered ground. All six occupants were slightly injured and later transferred to a hospital in Khatanga while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. Crew: A. A. Kas, pilot, V. K. Koroteev, copilot, N. M. Arapov, radio operator, D. Belusov, flight engineer, Yuri Vladimirovitch Nalimov, hydrologist, V. Ramenskii, hydrologist.

TAROM - Transporturile Aeriene Române

While descending to Bacau Airport, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Paragina located few km east of the airfield. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The takeoff from Nukha Airport was started from a snow covered runway (compacted snow) with snow showers and cross winds. After a roll of 124 meters, the tail wheel lifted off when the left main gear struck an irregularity on the runway surface. Instead of abandoning the takeoff procedure, the captain continued and elected to takeoff quickly. He pulled the control column to rotate but the aircraft's speed was too low. The airplane took off but in stall conditions, it bounced several times then rolled down into a ravine and came to rest by the Gurdzhanachay River, some 900 meters past the runway threshold. The copilot was killed and 21 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.

LOT Polish Airlines - Polskie Linie Lotnicze

On final approach to Warsaw-Okecie Airport, the aircraft lost height and crashed 100 meters short of runway threshold. All 15 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

At liftoff, the airplane banked left, causing the left main gear to struck the ground three times on a distance of 190 meters. After passing the runway end, the aircraft rolled for 36 meters in a thick layer of snow then climbed steeply to an altitude of 280 meters before crashing onto several buildings located 470 meters farther. All four occupants were uninjured and there were no victims on the ground.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 130 km/h, the pilot-in-command started the rotation. The airplane climbed few meters but was unable to gain sufficient height and banked right to an angle of 20°. The crew tried to regain control but the airplane was totally unstable. The pilot decided to reduce the power on left engine then on right engine when the airplane crash landed past the runway end. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The airplane departed Baku Airport at 1408LT on a cargo flight to Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, carrying two engineers from the motorist Zaporozhie, four crew members and a load consisting of five gear boxes for a total weight of 1,366 kilos. After takeoff from Baku, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 2,100 meters and the crew obtained the permission to modify his route to make an intermediate stop at Rostov-on-Don before continuing to Dnipropetrovsk. Doing so, the crew failed to request information about weather conditions en route. Later into the flight, weather conditions worsened and the captain requested the permission to descend to 1,500 meters but this was not possible and ATC instructed the crew to maintain the assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. While cruising in a thunderstorm, the airplane went out of control, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field located 10 km north of Izobilnoye. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed. It was reported that the left stabiliser was the first part to be sheared off during the descent and was found 850 meters from the main wreckage.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft departed Kostroma Airport at 0730LT with one passenger and seven crew on board. They were in charge to make aerial photography of the railroad from Neya to Svesha via Manturovo and Sharya. After two hours and ten minutes of flight, the left engine failed. The captain decided to divert to Sharya when the right engine overheated shortly later. In such conditions, he decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located on km 711, some 600 meters from the railroad. The passenger was unhurt while all seven crew members were injured. Eighteen hours later, the captain died from his injuries. The airplane was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew was engaged in a local night training mission at Donetsk Airport. Following five uneventful circuits, the crew started a sixth approach in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. On final, the pilot-in-command decided to continue the descent after passing the decision height despite the fact he was unable to distinguish the runway lights when the airplane struck trees. It banked right to an angle of 20° and crashed in a field located 380 meters to the right of the approach path and 325 meters from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were injured. Six days later, the captain died from his injuries.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was completing a training mission from Malaya Viska to Kirovograd, carrying five crew members and six passengers, one instructor, three auditors and two employees of the company. While approaching Kirovograd Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to fog, a worse situation than predicted. On final, while at an altitude of 40 meters, the instructor in command was unable to locate the runway and decided to continue the approach. Doing so, he failed to realize that the airplane banked right to an angle of 20° and lost altitude when it struck the ground and came to rest in flames 400 meters to the right of the approach path. Four crew members were killed and seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Pevek to Magadan with intermediate stops at Zyrianka and Seymchan, carrying a load of reindeer skins for a total weight of 800 kilos. Due to strong winds, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan and nor the crew nor ATC were able to note this. While approaching a mountainous area in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered downdrafts. The airplane lost altitude and descended from 2,400 to 1,820 meters in few seconds before crashing on the slope of Mt Tuonnyakh. The wreckage was found four days later some 53 km northwest of Seymchan and all four crew members were killed in the accident.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The takeoff from Tazovskoye Airport was attempted from an icy runway and in marginal weather conditions with a visibility limited to 500 meters and a crosswind gusting to 43 km/h. After a takeoff roll of 1,600 meters, the pilot pulled up and started the rotation when the aircraft banked right and crashed 265 meters farther, about 70 meters on the right of the extended center line. All four crew members and eight passengers were killed while 13 passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Olyokminsk, carrying a load of various goods such as 70 kg of mail, 494 kg of garlic, spare parts, a welding machine, a screen and radio equipment for a total weight of 1,476 kg. While descending to Olyokminsk, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and followed visually the wrong river Sinyaya instead of Lena. Doing so, the aircraft descended prematurely and its altitude was insufficient while passing the outer marker. The aircraft struck trees and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill (434 m high) located 25 km short of runway threshold. The wreckage was found a day later and all four crew members were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft departed Chita Airport on October 31 on a positioning flight to Minsk with intermediate stops at Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk and Kuybyshev, carrying a crew of five and four passengers, crew wife's and children. On the leg from Krasnoyarsk to Novosibirsk, weather conditions worsened and the crew elected to gain height due to icing conditions but this was denied by ATC. While cruising at an altitude between 900 and 1,500 meters, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive before crashing in flames in a dense wooded area located near Ribnoye, about 23 km east of Tamozhenka. Due to low clouds and snow falls, rescue teams could be dispatched only a day later but all SAR operations were suspended on November 22 as no trace of the aircraft nor the 9 occupants was found. These operations were restarted in May 1963 and the wreckage was eventually found on May 29, 1963. It was reported the aircraft struck the ground in a 70-80° nose down attitude and disintegrated on impact. Debris were found 200 meters around the point of impact, the engines were found three meters deep into the earth and a part of the right elevator was found 1 km from the main wreckage. The accident was not survivable.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Shortly after takeoff from Gorki-Strigino Airport, while climbing to a height of 140-150 meters, the left engine failed. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and the captain elected to make an emergency landing when he was forced to make a sharp turn to the left to avoid obstacles (building and factory's chimney) when the airplane banked left, causing the left wing tip to struck the ground. The airplane crashed in flames in a field located in Bolchoye Doskino, some 7 km southwest of the airport. A passenger was slightly injured while all 20 other occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew departed Aralsk Airport at 0952LT on an ice reconnaissance mission over the Aral Sea. While cruising at an altitude of 800 meters, the aircraft went into clouds and the pilot decided to reduce his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the sea surface. The airplane descended to an altitude of 400 meters when it flew again in fog. The crew reduced again his altitude, causing the aircraft to struck the ground. The aircraft bounced and crashed 226 meters farther. A crew member and two passengers were killed while seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Royal Lao Air Force

In flight, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Phon Sawan. Four crew members were killed while four others were rescued.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Yakutsk to Zyrianka with an intermediate stop at Oymyakon, carrying two passengers, a crew of four and a load of 2,253 kilos of potatoes. While cruising at an altitude of 1,600 meters in clouds, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area located 95 km west of Oymyakon. The wreckage was found two days later in an isolated area. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The takeoff from Ufa Airport was completing in marginal weather conditions and the airplane was unable to gain sufficient speed. Despite the situation, the captain decided to rotate and immediately after liftoff, the aircraft adopted a high angle of attack, causing the base of the tail to struck the ground. The aircraft bounced several times then crash landed, overran and came to rest in a garden located 290 meters past the runway end and 220 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were seriously injured. Five hours after the crash, the captain died from his injuries and 38 hours later, the radio operator died.

Soviet Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily CCCP

The landing at Sam Neua-Nathong Airport (the runway is 1,000 meters long and located at an altitude of 1,100 meters) was completed with a tailwind component. After touchdown, the pilot realized he would not be able to stop within the remaining distance so he decided to veer off runway to avoid to crash in a ravine located past the runway end. Doing so, the airplane came to rest in a terrace rice field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the occupants.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew departed Stalingrad-Gumrak Airport for a regional meteorological mission. While flying in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the captain decided to climb to 5,200 meters and allowed the rest of the crew to execute non-compliant maneuvers. The aircraft went in stall conditions then entered a dive. The captain elected to regain control but the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field located in Pervoye Maya, about 85 km northeast of Stalingrad-Gumrak Airport. The aircraft disintegrated in impact and all five crew members were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Magadan to Pevek with intermediate stops at Seymshan, Zyrianka, Nizhni Kresty, and Bilibino, carrying one passenger, a crew of five and two tons of apples. The takeoff was started by night and in snow falls from a contaminated runway. After a long takeoff course, the pilot-in-command completed the rotation at low speed. After liftoff, the airplane reached a high angle of attack, stalled and struck the runway surface several times. It continued for few hundred yards then banked left and eventually crashed in flames in a snowy field located 440 meters past the runway end. The passenger was slightly injured while all five crew members were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

TAROM - Transporturile Aeriene Române

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Mironeasa. The airplane was damaged beyond repair but there were no injuries.

LOT Polish Airlines - Polskie Linie Lotnicze

The crew was involved in a survey mission of the Vistule River when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Tczew. All six occupants were killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The crew was completing a positioning flight from Nikolayevsk-on-Amur to Magadan with an intermediate stop at Okhotsk. En route, pilots encountered poor weather conditions with turbulences and heavy icing conditions. The airplane lost altitude and eventually dove into the ground before crashing in flames at an altitude of 900 meters on the slope of Mt Dzhugdzhur (1,207 meters high) located in the region of Enken. The burned wreckage was found five days later and all five crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were bad with low visibility, snow falls, severe icing conditions, turbulences, wind from 140° at 100 km/h and an OAT of -18°.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was recently transferred from the Soviet Air Force to Aeroflot and the crew was en route from Sverdlovsk to Moscow-Bykovo with an intermediate stop in Kazan. Technical modifications should be brought on the aircraft, all documentation should be modified and adapted with a new color scheme on the fuselage. En route, the right engine failed and the captain decided to return to Sverdlovsk but he was unable to maintain a safe altitude. The crew jettisoned some of the cargo but few boxes struck the door and one of them remained partially blocked, causing drag. Losing altitude, the airplane struck trees and eventually crashed in a wooded area located near Didino, about 65 km west of Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport. The airplane was destroyed, three crew members were injured and the fourth occupant was killed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

Rotation from Vilnius Airport was completed at a speed of 115 km/h. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height due to a high angle of attack. In stall conditions, the aircraft lost height, causing the left wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane struck a ditch and two poles before coming to rest in flames 1,400 meters past the departure point. A crew member was killed while four other crews were seriously injured. All four passengers were unhurt and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

On final approach to Karaganda by night, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and low visibility. As he was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to abandon the approach and made a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the approach speed was too low. The airplane stalled, causing the right wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed 600 meters short of runway threshold and 71 meters to the left of its centerline. Eight people were injured and a passenger was killed while all 20 other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Milkovo to Khalaktyrka, carrying a crew of four and a load of 46 bags of potatoes for a total weight of 2,536 kilos. The crew started the descent in clouds and did not realize he was not following the assigned route for Khalaktyrka. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, the airplane struck the north face of Mt Aag (2,319 meters high) located 42 km north of Khalaktyrka. The wreckage was found a day later and all four crew members were killed.

Polyarnaya Aviatsiya

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.