Li-2 crash on the Karatau Range

Causes

Conclusions: The aircraft crew conducted the flight in a passive manner, not making full use of the navigation aids available on the route, not taking into account the existing drift of the aircraft to the left of the intended track. As a result the aircraft deviated from the route by 72 kilometres. The duty forecaster gave incorrect wind data by altitude in the weather forecast. The wind speed exceeded the forecast by 3 times, which caused a drift of the aircraft of about 25° instead of the calculated 7—9°.

Contributing factors: The commander of the transport detachment did not ensure the pre-flight preparation of the crew and allowed a scratch crew that had not flown together to make the flight; the co-pilot was not cleared to fly the Li-2; qualification checks of the navigator and the flight radio operator had not been carried out for more than a year. Negligent attitude to flight control on the part of the Tashkent airport controller — timely measures to monitor the flight were not taken. The Dzhusaly airport controller reported the departure to Turkestan airport late. The Turkestan airport controller delayed switching on the homing beacon and the light beacon by 14 minutes owing to his lack of efficiency. At Dzhusaly airport the weather form was handed to the navigator and not to the aircraft commander. The aircraft commander was not personally prepared for the flight and did not know the weather situation along the route.