Aeroflot Flight 601 was a scheduled Soviet domestic passenger flight from Arkhangelsk to Leshukonskoye in the Russian SSR, operated by Aeroflot. The Antonov An-24RV that was involved crashed on 24 December 1983 during approach to Leshukonskoye. Forty-four people were killed; five survived the accident. Pilot error was cited as the cause of the accident.
 An Aeroflot Antonov An-24RV, similar to that involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 December 1983 |
| Summary | Stalled on approach due to pilot error |
| Site | Leshukonskoye Airport |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Antonov An-24RV |
| Operator | Aeroflot |
| Registration | СССР-46617 |
| Flight origin | Talagi Airport, Arkhangelsk, Russian SSR |
| Destination | Leshukonskoye Airport, Leshukonskoye, Russian SSR |
| Occupants | 49 |
| Passengers | 44 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 44 |
| Survivors | 5 |
Crew
editThe aircraft's crew consisted of captain Nikolai Alimov, first officer Alexander Priydak, navigating officer Vladimir Marichev, and flight engineer Fyodor Igumnov plus one flight attendant.[1]
Crash
editThe visibility at Leshukonskoye airport was 5 km, with drizzle, a wind speed of 3 m/s and air temperature 0 °C (32 °F).[1] Sixteen kilometres away from Leshukonskoye airport and at an altitude of 500 m (1,600 ft) the crew put the landing gear down and set the flaps at 15 degrees.[1] Then the flaps were set to 38 degrees and the aircraft, piloted by captain, started to descend.[1] The aircraft descended with a significant deviation that reached about 490 m to the left. The captain decided to land instead of making a go-around and banked the aircraft to the right. At an altitude of about 30 m (98 ft) the captain decided to make a go-around. The landing gear was retracted and the aircraft started to climb, but reached critical slip angles which compromised aircraft control.[1] The captain then ordered to set the flaps at 15 degrees, but by then the aircraft had stalled.[1] It then started to descend with an increasing left bank angle. At an altitude of 80 m (260 ft) and with a speed of 86.39 knots (160 kmh) the flaps were set to eight degrees.[1] The left bank angle ultimately reached 90 degrees and the aircraft crashed 110 m to the right of the runway.[1] The aircraft broke apart and partially burned.[1] Four passengers and the flight attendant survived the accident.[1]
Investigation
editThe investigation placed the responsibility for the accident on the captain Alimov, who was found to have a risky style of piloting, which violated the flight instructions.[1] It was also found that the crew should have initiated a go-around instead of attempting to land first.[1] No fault with air traffic control was found.[1]