2013 Irkut-Avia An-12 crash

Irkut-Avia

Company type	Airline
Industry	Aviation
Headquarters	Irkutsk , Russia
Key people	Andrei Starkov (director, testing division), Aleksandr Oseiko (director, testing division)
Products	Cargo air transport

On 26 December 2013, an Irkut-Avia Antonov An-12 cargo aircraft conducting a domestic flight within Russia from Yeltsovka Airport, Novosibirsk, crashed while on final approach to its destination, Irkutsk Northwest Airport, located in Irkutsk. The accident resulted in the deaths of all nine individuals aboard, comprising six crew members and three passengers. Investigations concluded that pilot error was the primary cause, although subsequent analyses indicated that a malfunction of engine number two may have significantly contributed to the crash.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-12 freighter, bearing registration RA-12162. Produced in 1963 with serial number 3341509, it was originally delivered to the Soviet Air Force. Ownership transferred to Irkut-Avia in 2008.

Crew and passengers

There were six crew members and three passengers on board at the time of the accident.

The flight crew included Captain Valery V. Shargorodsky, aged 50; First Officer Pavel P. Erofeev, aged 53; Navigator Sergei V. Abrasimov, aged 51; Flight Engineer Seitzhan M. Makhmutov, aged 51; Radio Operator Pavel I. Sebekin, aged 46; and Alexander S. Levakovsky, aged 29.

The passengers consisted of three technicians: Oleg Vladimirovich Trunin, age 46; Igor Leonidovich Fursov, age 45; and Alexander L. Yakovlev, age 55.

Flight

The Antonov An-12 was assigned to carry out a cargo mission between Yeltsovka Airport and Irkutsk Northwest Airport, tasked with transporting goods for the factories of the Irkut Corporation located in Novosibirsk and Irkutsk. Onboard were six crew members, three passengers, and approximately 1.5 tons of spare parts. The initial segment of the journey proceeded without incident. However, during the approach phase, the aircraft aligned itself with runway 14 at Irkutsk Northwest Airport. At 9:01 pm local time, air traffic control in Irkutsk lost communication with the plane when it was roughly 1.7 km short of the runway. The plane collided with several birch trees using its landing gear and underside, before crashing into a hangar owned by the Russian Ministry of Defence, subsequently igniting a fire. The blaze destroyed multiple replacement tools along with several ZIL-131 vehicles stored inside the hangars and on the surrounding grounds. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations received reports of the accident 37 minutes after the crash occurred. Emergency responders arrived promptly, deploying ten fire engines and numerous firefighters to the scene. The estimated damage exceeded 78 million rubles.

Investigation

The inquiry into the accident determined that pilot error was primarily responsible for the crash, while adverse weather conditions—characterized by snowfall and low visibility—and mistakes by air traffic control were identified as contributing factors.

Legal proceedings were launched under part 3 of article 263 of the Criminal Code of Russia, addressing "violation of air safety regulations." During this process, Andrei Starkov and Aleksandr Oseiko, directors of Irkut-Avia's testing division within Irkut, received sentences of three years in a penal colony.

In 2016, a court investigation concluded that a malfunction in the number two engine of the Antonov An-12 significantly contributed to the crash alongside pilot error. This finding was supported by evidence from the propeller blades' position at the crash site, which could only occur if that engine had failed.