Investigation Summary
The aircraft was operating a multi-leg passenger service originating in Okha with scheduled stops at Nikolaevsk-on-Amur and Nizhne-Tambov, ending in Khabarovsk. It was already overloaded by 336kg upon departure from Okha, and an additional 226kg of load was added at Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. During the leg to Nizhne-Tambov, poor visibility and bad weather forced the pilot to fly at a low altitude of 30 to 50 meters along the Amur River, passing over Sukhanovka. While descending for its destination, the right wing separated from the fuselage. The aircraft entered a clockwise spiral and impacted the frozen river upside down. Investigation revealed that the right wing had been improperly repaired during a 1931 conversion overhaul.
Final Conclusions
The crash was caused by the structural failure of the right wing due to an improper repair performed during a 1931 overhaul. Contributing factors included the severe overloading of the aircraft and the necessity of low-altitude flight due to poor weather conditions.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Wing Structure
The right wing separated in flight due to an improper repair during a previous overhaul.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was overloaded by a total of 562kg beyond its limit.
- 02The right wing had been improperly repaired during an overhaul in 1931.
- 03The aircraft crashed upside down on the frozen Amur River.
- 04All 16 people on board were killed.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Maintenance Investigation
Source ↗The investigation into the crash identified that the right wing had been improperly repaired during a 1931 overhaul for the aircraft's conversion to an airliner. This structural weakness, exacerbated by severe overloading, led to the wing's separation in flight.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the entered by an editor.