1941 Alma-Ata G-2 crash
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 6 km from Dmitrievka (Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union)
 Tupolev TB-3 — G-2 prototype | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 December 1941 |
| Summary | Overloading, poor visibility, ATC errors, CFIT |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Tupolev G-2 |
| Operator | Aeroflot (Kazakh Territorial Directorate of Civil Air Fleet) |
| Registration | USSR-Л3043 |
| Flight origin | Alma-Ata Airport |
| Occupants | 34 |
| Fatalities | 26 |
| Survivors | 8 |
G-2 Crash near Alma-Ata was an aviation accident involving a G-2 aircraft (a cargo-passenger version of the ANT-6) operated by Aeroflot near Alma-Ata on 26 December 1941. The crash resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including several leaders of the Kazakh SSR. This was the first documented air disaster on the territory of Kazakhstan.[1]
The G-2 was a cargo-passenger conversion of the Tupolev TB-3 heavy bomber. This G-2, tail number USSR-L3043 (serial number 22182), was built in 1939 and was soon transferred to the Kazakh Territorial Directorate of the Civil Air Fleet.[2]
Crash
The aircraft was supposed to carry two teams from the Central Committee on a mission to the Akmola and Kustanay regions. It was piloted by the second-class pilot and aircraft commander A.I. Solovyev (flight time 4,256 hours, including 177 hours on the G-2) and the co-pilot G.S. Tupchy, who was assigned to this flight by the authorities despite having no flight experience on the G-2, and thus sat in the cockpit as a passenger. A total of 34 people were on board, with 3,200 kilograms of fuel in the tanks. The takeoff weight was exceeded by approximately one ton.[2]
According to the weather forecast provided, fog was expected to start near Bakanas, but in reality, the fog began in the vicinity of Alma-Ata. However, the head of the Civil Air Fleet Directorate A.Ya. Gatushkin decided to proceed with the takeoff. The airport manager, V.A. Kudinov, was negligent in not insisting on canceling the flight.[2]
After taking off from the airport, the aircraft initially flew at an altitude of 100–150 meters, with strong turbulence being noted by the surviving passengers. The crew then began a left turn. At that moment, the aircraft started losing altitude, then touched the ground with the left wingtip, and crashed. The more than two tons of fuel in the tanks ignited, causing a fire that destroyed the aircraft. Only eight passengers seated in the tail section, who were thrown out during the impact, survived. All other 26 people, including both pilots, perished.[2]