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.

Aeroflot Flight 601
An Aeroflot Antonov An-24RV, similar to that involved in the accident
Accident
Date24 December 1983 (1983-12-24)
SummaryStalled on approach due to pilot error
SiteLeshukonskoye Airport
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAntonov An-24RV
OperatorAeroflot
RegistrationСССР-46617
Flight originTalagi Airport, Arkhangelsk, Russian SSR
DestinationLeshukonskoye Airport, Leshukonskoye, Russian SSR
Occupants49
Passengers44
Crew5
Fatalities44
Survivors5

Crew

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The 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

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The 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 The landing gear was retracted and the aircraft started to climb, but reached critical slip angles which compromised aircraft control.[1] The captain then ordered to set the flaps at 15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

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The 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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Катастрофа Ан-24РВ Архангельского ОАО в районе а/п Лешуконское" (in Russian). Airdisaster.ru. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
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