Tu-134 Plane Crashes In Russian City Of Samara, Five Dead - Ifax

[Dysonsphere]

Just seen this on REUTERS

Anyone know any more


Update just out


Russian Ministry: 5 killed, 51 injured in crash landing of
passenger jet at Samara airport

[ROSUN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6461353.stm


Russian plane crash 'kills five'


At least five people have been killed and dozens injured after a Russian passenger jet made an emergency landing 1,100km east of Moscow, reports say.
The TU-134 jet crashed on landing in the city of Samara, Russian media said. "The plane made a harsh landing. As a result the plane's fuselage broke apart," agency RIA Novosti quoted a government official as saying. Five people were killed in the crash and 51 people were injured, said the emergency situations ministry official.

[rotorcraig]

BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6461353.stm) reports:


Five die in Russian plane crash

At least five people have been killed and 52 injured after a passenger plane made an emergency landing in central Russia, officials say.

They say the TU-134 jet crashed on landing in the city of Samara, some 900km (550 miles) south-east of Moscow.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42693000/gif/_42693629_russia_samara2_map203.gif

"The plane made a harsh landing. As a result the plane's fuselage broke apart," Russia's emergency situation ministry spokeswoman said.

The Tupolev-134 is a passenger plane that can carry more than 80 people.

The twin-engine aircraft crash-landed at 1045 local time (0645 GMT), officials said.

It was en route from the Siberian city of Surgut, about 2,200km (1,400 miles) east of Moscow.

Rescue teams are working at the scene.

A number of people have been taken to hospital. RC

[Dysonsphere]

Heres there statement


UPDATE 1-Tu-134 plane crash-lands in Russian Samara, 5 die
(Adds quotes, details)
MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Five people died and 52 were
injured when a Tu-134 aircraft crash-landed in the Russian city
of Samara on Saturday, the emergency ministry said.
"The plane was flying from (the Siberian city of) Surgut to
Samara (on the Volga) and its fuselage collapsed during the
landing for unknown reasons. It was then forced to crash-land,"
said the ministry's spokeswoman, Irina Andrianova.
She said officials at Surgut airport had told her ministry
there were 57 people aboard the aircraft, 50 passengers and
seven cabin crew and pilots.
"People are still being evacuated from the plane," she said.
Itar-Tass news agency said the plane belonged to Russian
carrier Utair. The company said it would issue a statement later
and declined immediate comment.
Utair was among nine carriers that Russia banned last month
from operating charter flights to the European Union, citing
safety reasons.
The short-haul Tu-134 is one of the oldest passenger
aircraft in service in Russia and experts say it should be
withdrawn as soon as possible.

[llondel]

That's a bit ambiguous:

...its fuselage collapsed during the landing for unknown reasons. It was then forced to crash-land,


Did it break before the plane hit the ground or afterwards? If it was before then that has far scarier implications than afterwards, which might just have been a very hard landing (as with the Adam Air 737 and the MD80 test flight). The bit about people still being evacuated from the plane is a bit worrisome as well, sounds like they were lucky there wasn't a fire.

[Sinbad1]

Plane crash-lands in Russia, 7 dead

Seven people have died, and more have been injured, in a plane crash in Russia. A Tupolev-134 aircraft, belonging to Russian carrier UTair, was apparently trying to land in heavy fog when its wing tip touched the ground and the undercarriage collapsed. Fifty-seven people were on board the plane when it crashed at Samara airport, about 1000 kilometres south-east of Moscow. It had taken off from the Siberian city of Surgut. The airport is now closed until further notice.

UTair is among nine carriers which Russia has banned from operating charter flights to Europe because of safety concerns. The Tupolev-134 is also one of the oldest passenger planes in service.

Sincere condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones.

http://www.euronews.net/images/en/otherdetails_accueil_info.gif

[Lasiorhinus]

For a small airliner carrying around 80 passengers, just why are SEVEN operating crew necessary? I figure, two flight crew and two cabin crew should be enough... were there another three airline employees deadheading and ended up being counted as crew?

[AFFF]

TU-134,s operated by UTair all appear to be glass nosed examples, which leads me to think they operate with four flight deck crew, (Captain, First Officer, Navigator and Flight Engineer) and three cabin crew.

Looking at accident stats for the TU-134, a large proportion appear to be landing accidents, with a high percentage being caused by heavy landings, leading to seperation of a wing followed by break-up of the fuselage. This appears to be an all too common occurance with this particular type.

[bnt]

According to the Washington Post, the plane first touched down ~400yds short, so the gear would have been damaged, and worse. Latest report is seven dead. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031700676.html

[Beaver diver]

Illondel, some people can't speak perfect English,just for your information, but at least they try...

[llondel]

Illondel, some people can't speak perfect English,just for your information, but at least they try...

I did think it had lost something in translation, but given the Reuters attribution, I would have thought they'd manage to do a bit better. Anyway, subsequent reports have clarified things more.

[barit1]

Samara airport is S of the city - go to Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=53.11+N,50.095+E

Select satellite image, then zoom as desired.

[Milan N]

This is last photo of this plane on A.NET :(
http://myaviation.net/photos/small/0/0/7/00990700.jpg (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1175555/M/)

[Milan N]

Crew is survive. They told about unreliable work of ILS.

[peterperfect]

Barit1,
That airport you linke to looks disused.
The airport with all the Tu-134 activity is to the East of the City.
pp

[WHBM]

The 134 can indeed apparently be a bit of a challenge on landing and there have been a number of accidents at this stage. It seems to have performance charactersitics which can lead to it getting away from the crew occasionally, notably when in combination with other difficulties.

It is common on Soviet types for the crew to include at least one supernumary trainee, as a second officer, which can account for the high number of personnel on the flight deck. On larger types this is even more so. The second officer should not be confused with the Russian term "second pilot" which can appear in accident reports, which is actually their expression for the FO, the captain being the "first pilot".

The aircraft in question does appear to be a glass-nosed example with a navigators station in the glazed nose, which was a feature of the earlier 134s and not incorporated on any export models which had the weather radar there instead (note "export" meant mainly to Eastern European Comecon countries). Access is through a curtained small access hole ahead of the throttle quadrant between the pilots. At least one hijack in hand on the flight deck has been foiled by the navigator suddenly appearing through there to the surprise of the perpetrators ! Despite the great view ahead it must be a claustrophobic position to have to work in.

[Milan N]

Kurumoch (Samara airport) is located north of the sity N5330 Е05009. Bezymyanka is located near the sity (small aircraft and helycopters).
Plane landed 400m(1200ft) before RW and 150m(500ft) right. Minimum of the fild is 800m(2400ft) visibility and 60m(180ft) ceiling.
To WHBM: You have good knowledge about Russian planes.:D
There are four crew in TU-134: captain(first pilot), FO(second pilot), navigaror(in the glazed nose) and fligthengeneer(between pilots) plus maybe examinetor for one of the crew.

[barit1]

Thanks KC & MN - I stand corrected.

[Belowclouds]

That hijack attempt was not only foild, bad guys were literally shot down. Penetrators killed the captain and F/E. The navigator, in his turn, opened the fire from his hole. Brave gentleman. And accurate shooter. The real slaughter followed, but it wasn't his blame. Nowdays you can see a memorial in Tbilisi built in honour of criminals. They are called "freedom fighters". Strange things happen in this world.

[bobusse]

That hijack attempt was not only foild, bad guys were literally shot down. Penetrators killed the captain and F/E. The navigator, in his turn, opened the fire from his hole. Brave gentleman. And accurate shooter. The real slaughter followed, but it wasn't his blame. Nowdays you can see a memorial in Tbilisi built in honour of criminals. They are called "freedom fighters". Strange things happen in this world.

Very impressive story,any where to find the very detailed report,if any ?

[Magplug]

Can any of our Russian colleagues tell us if the TU-134 can actually do fog?

With an impact of 400m short, 150m offset with a wing low it sounds as if this aircraft was never actually stabilised on the ILS. The crew have already suggested an 'ILS malfunction' but the first reaction to that is normally execute a GA.... not press on.

Sounds like Mister Cock-Up is visiting again.

[megapilot]

Tu134 minima is CAT2 (DA100', RVR 350m). Autopilot must be off below 100' (manual landing only). Samara UWWW can provide CAT1 only (DA200).
ILS problem :confused: ? Human factor :confused: ? ATC role:confused: ?

[Magplug]

Thanks Megapilot.... best wishes to you in Kazakhstan.....

The only thing about vis I have heard so far is 'Heavy Fog' which is a bit meaningless. A figure of 60m DH and 800m RVR is mentioned above is that correct for UWWW?

Any idea what the reported RVR was ?

[Milan N]

Nobody told about RVR.
Most probably ILS problem on board.