- Date
- February 2, 2012, 14:42 local (18:42 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 4 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- RA82046Antonov AN124
- Defining event
- Enroute: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 19, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Parties
- FAA International Office
- Case key
- 82811
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
an inadvertent encounter with Clear Air Turbulence that resulted in serious injuries to two crewmembers.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
On February 2, 2012, about 1442 Alaska standard time, Volga-Dnepr Airlines flight VDA 4410, an Antonov AN-124-100, registration RA82046, encountered turbulence during approach to land to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was not damaged but two crew members received serious injuries. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 129 as an unscheduled cargo flight from Campbell Army Airfield, Fort Campbell, Kentucky to ANC. According to flight crew statements there were pilot reports of light turbulence in the area. While the airplane was about 40 miles from ANC at an altitude of about 13,000 feet and clear of clouds, the flight encountered severe turbulence that lasted for about 3 to 10 seconds. The flight crew reported that the airplane's g-meter recorded the event at -0.6 to +2.0 Gs. At the time of the turbulence, one maintenance crew member was in the aft technical cabin returning from the lavatory and a second maintenance crewmember was in his seat with the seatbelt buckled but was jolted against the arm rest. Both crewmembers received serious injuries.
Factual narrative
On February 2, 2012, about 1442 Alaska standard time, Volga-Dnepr Airlines flight VDA 4410, an Antonov AN-124-100, registration RA82046, encountered turbulence during approach to land to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was not damaged but two crew members received serious injuries. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 129 as an unscheduled cargo flight from Campbell Army Airfield, Fort Campbell, Kentucky to ANC. According to flight crew statements there were pilot reports of light turbulence in the area. While the airplane was about 40 miles from ANC at an altitude of about 13,000 feet and clear of clouds, the flight encountered severe turbulence that lasted for about 3 to 10 seconds. The flight crew reported that the airplane's g-meter recorded the event at -0.6 to +2.0 Gs. At the time of the turbulence, one maintenance crew member was in the aft technical cabin returning from the lavatory and a second maintenance crewmember was in his seat with the seatbelt buckled but was jolted against the arm rest. Both crewmembers received serious injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- RA82046
- Reported as
- Antonov AN124 (100M)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9773052255117
- Engines
- Lotarev D18, 51,600 lbs thrust, turbo fanLotarev D18, 51,600 lbs thrust, turbo fanLotarev D18, 51,600 lbs thrust, turbo fanLotarev D18, 51,600 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 129
- Operator
- Volga-Dnepr
- Registered owner
- Volga-Dnepr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KHOP · Fort Campbell, KY
- Destination
- Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown
- Last flight review
- April 14, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,556 total · 2,695 in this make and model · 136 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown
- Last flight review
- April 5, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,542 total · 2,087 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.