Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 9045
{{Short description|1994 aviation accident}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| image = Antonov An-12BP AN0918727.jpg
| alt =
| caption = An Antonov An-12BP similar to the accident aircraft
| name = Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 9045
| date = 24 February 1994
| occurrence_type = Accident
| summary = Icing, loss of control
| site = Near Nalchik Airport, Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
| coordinates =
| aircraft_type = Antonov An-12BP
| aircraft_name =
| operator = Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise
| origin = Pulkovo Airport, Saint Petersburg
| stopover = Volgograd International Airport, Volgograd
| stopover0 =
| last_stopover =
| destination = Nalchik Airport, Kabardino-Balkaria
| tail_number = RA-11118
| occupants = 13
| passengers = 7
| crew = 6
| fatalities = 13
| injuries =
| missing =
| survivors = 0
}}
Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 9045 was a cargo flight that crashed on approach to Nalchik while carrying {{convert|12,515|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of coins from the Saint Petersburg Mint, killing all 13 occupants.{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19940224-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 12BP RA-11118 Nalchik Airport (NAL)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2017-04-13}}
Aircraft and crew
The aircraft involved in the accident was an Antonov An-12BP with four Ivchenko AI-20M engines, registered RA-11118 to Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Катастрофа Ан-12 в Нальчике|trans-title=Accident An-12 in Nalchik|url=http://www.airdisaster.ru/database.php?id=277|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2017-04-13|website=www.airdisaster.ru|language=ru}}
Seven crew members and six passengers were aboard the flight.
Synopsis
Flight 9045 carried {{convert|12,515|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of coins in cargo from St. Petersburg to the stopover in Volgograd. Until landing there were no issues during the flight to Nalchik. The air traffic controller informed the flight crew of the weather conditions at the airport, but failed to mention the issue of ice; hence the crew did not activate the de-icing system for the approach.
When the flight was {{convert|13|km|mi}} away from the runway, the crew set the flaps at 15°. At {{convert|8|km|mi}} from the runway, the aircraft entered the glide path, after which the flaps were set to 35°. 16 seconds later, the crew increased the engine power to maintain a consistent speed of {{convert|260|km/h|kn mph|abbr=on}}. The flight was already {{convert|40|m|ft}} above the glide path and the pilots adjusted the elevators from 1 to 5° deflection, only for the elevators to spontaneously go to 15° deflection.
At an altitude of {{convert|320|m|ft}} the aircraft pitched nose-down 50-55° into a rapid descent; the pilots pulled back on the control columns; but due being at a low altitude the aircraft was unable to recover from the dive, the aircraft crashed into a field and was quickly engulfed in flames.
Cause
The investigation concluded that causes of the accident were as follows:
- Failure of the airport to update the weather report and notify pilots;
- untimely notification of the dangerous weather forecast;
- incorrect recommendations for executing an approach laid out in the aircraft flight manual;
- failure to use the aircraft de-icing system;
- failure to follow procedures as outlined in the aircraft flight manual.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 1994}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Russia in the 1990s}}
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Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Russia in 1994
Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error
Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-12