Sknyliv airshow disaster

Infobox Airshow accident
name = Sknyliv airshow disaster


caption =
date = 27 July 2002
type = Pilot error
site = Sknyliv Airfield near Lviv, Ukraine
aircraft_type = Sukhoi Su-27
tail_number =
operator = Ukrainian Air Force (Ukrainian Falcons)
crew = 2 (ejected to safety)
injuries = over 100 (on ground)
fatalities = 85 (84 on ground, one due to injuries)

The Sknyliv airshow disaster occurred on 27 July 2002 when a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 of the Ukrainian Falcons crashed during an aerobatics presentation at Sknyliv airfield near Lviv, Ukraine. 84 people were killed, as well as an 85th who later died from injuries at a hospital, and over 100 injured. The crash remains the world's worst airshow disaster to date [ [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/07/28/ukraine.detained/index.html "CNN news report, 29 July 2002"] (2 days after the accident)] .

The accident

The aircraft, flown by two experienced pilots, entered a rolling manoeuvre with a downward trajectory at low altitude; having rolled upright once more the aircraft was still descending rapidly and the left wing dropped shortly before the aircraft hit the ground, at which point the crew initiated ejection. The aircraft flattened out initially, skidding over the ground towards stationary aircraft, striking a glancing blow against the nose of an Il-76 transport aircraft before beginning to explode and cartwheel into the crowd of spectators. Both pilots survived with minor injuries from the ejection and landed just feet away from the transport aircraft. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trEcpBVTE3g "Video news reports"] (on YouTube)]

Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma publicly blamed the military for the disaster and dismissed the head of the air force, Volodymyr Strelnykov. The defense minister Volodymyr Shkidchenko sent in his resignation, but it was rejected by Kuchma.

On June 24, 2005, a military court sentenced Toponar and co-pilot Yuriy Yegorov to fourteen and eight years in prison, respectively. The court found the two pilots and three other military officials guilty of failing to follow orders, negligence and violating flight rules. Two of the three officials were sentenced to up to six years in prison, and the last official received up to four years. In addition, Toponar was ordered to pay 7.2 million hryvnia ($1.42 million; €1.18 million) in compensation to the families, and Yegorov another 2.5 million hryvnia. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/06/24/ukraine.airshow/ "CNN news report, 24 June 2005"] (after the verdict)] [ [http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/leadnews/190074-1.html "Aviation Web news report, 29 June 2005"] (after the verdict)]

While the pilots were assigned the majority of the blame, which included accusations of attempting manoeuvres that they were not experienced with, one pilot had requested additional training at the airfield where the display was to be performed; this request was denied. [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200208/08/eng20020808_101150.shtml "People's Daily news report, 8 Aug 2002] (12 days after the accident)]

After the verdict was announced, Toponar said he planned to appeal, insisting the crash was due to technical problems and a faulty flight plan.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-30 prototype fighter jet (a thrust vectoring derivative of the Su-27) had previously crashed under similar conditions during the Paris Airshow. That crash happened due to flight plan error, but did not result in any fatalities, due in no small part to the far tighter safety rules at Western European airshows which placed the display much farther away from the crowd.

See also

* Ramstein air disaster
* Brovary
* Ukrainian Falcons aerobatics team
* Military of Ukraine
* List of airshow accidents

External links

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2136241946237981827 Google video footage of the accident] (Contains graphic violence)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZp70h9AC1A&feature=related Youtube video footage of the accident] (Contains graphic violence)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3nJNE8jbUg Alternative Youtube footage of the accident and aftermath. (WARNING - Graphic Content)]
* [http://www.nothingtoxic.com/media/1168317542/Horrific_Air_Show_Disaster_in_Ukraine Different angle of the accident and aftermath] (Contains graphic violence)

References

*ru icon [http://www.obozrevatel.com/news/2006/1/27/83579.htm "Prosecution's Aerobatics After the Sknyliv Tragedy"] (2006 journalist investigation of the accident, includes photos of the crash moment)
*uk icon [http://www.zn.kiev.ua/nn/show/404/35672/ 2004 Article in Ukrainian "Dzerkalo Tyznhya" weekly] .html"Crash Footage"]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/28/1027497446606.html Sydney Morning Herald article]
* [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/07/28/ukraine.detained/index.html CNN article]