2012 Kazakhstan Antonov An-72 crash

On Christmas Day 25 December 2012, an Antonov An-72 military transport aircraft operated by the Kazakh Armed Forces crashed about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city of Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where the aircraft was preparing to land. All 27 people on board died in the crash.[1][2][3]

2012 Kazakhstan Antonov An-72 crash
UP-72859, the aircraft involved, photographed a month before the accident
Accident
Date25 December 2012 (2012-12-25)
SummaryCrashed on descent short of runway in bad weather
SiteShymkent, Kazakhstan
42.500°N 69.833°E / 42.500; 69.833
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAntonov An-72-100
OperatorArmed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan
RegistrationUP-72859
Flight originAstana International Airport, Astana, Kazakhstan
DestinationShymkent International Airport, Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Occupants27
Passengers20
Crew7
Fatalities27
Survivors0

History of the flight

The aircraft had been flying from Kazakhstan's capital of Astana to Shymkent and was carrying seven crew and twenty members of the Kazakh border patrol, including its leader, the acting Director of the Kazakhstan Border Guard Service, Colonel Turganbek Stambekov.[2]

Accident

The accident occurred at about 19:00 local time (1300 UTC) as the aircraft was descending to land.[4] According to local media, the aircraft had been flying at an altitude of about 800 metres (2,600 ft) when it suddenly crashed to the ground.[4] Emergency crews were dispatched from Shymkent in response. However, the head of the local emergency services department stated that "the plane was destroyed by fire. Only fragments [were] left."[5] Kazakhstan's National Security Committee issued a statement confirming that all 27 people on board had died in the crash,[5] and also said that an investigation into the incident has begun.[6]

Investigation

The investigation commission found out that failure of the autopilot and radio altimeter combined with poor visibility, and the pilot failing to follow instruction to use the barometric altimeter caused the crash.[7]

References
  1. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  2. "Military plane carrying 27 crashes in Kazakhstan". Agence France-Presse. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  3. "Kazakhstan military plane crash 'kills 27' near Shymkent". BBC News. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  4. "UPDATE 2-Kazakh military plane crashes, all 27 on board killed". Reuters. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  5. "Border Guard Plane Crashes in Kazakhstan, 27 Dead". RIA Novosti. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  6. "Kazakhstan military plane crashes, killing 27 near border with Uzbekistan". The Washington Post. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. "Pilot Error, Bad Weather Caused Shymkent Plane Crash". The Gazette of Central Asia. Satrapia. 22 January 2013.
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