Search of crashed Tu-142 is resumed after storm

16.11.2009
Search of Pacific Fleet aircraft crashed in Tatarskiy Strait on Nov 6 is resumed after storm despite strong wind, says RIA Novosti referring to Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, the head of Pacific Fleet Information and Public Relations Service.

An-26 aircraft is providing air search; servicemen are looking for aircraft wreckage ashore.

Rescue operation was suspended on Nov 14 due to cyclone rolled to Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan with severe gale and snowfall. According to Mr. Martov, wave height in Tatarskiy Strait exceeded 5 meters and visibility was very low. The cyclone will leave search area at Tuesday night, say forecasters. That will enable to resume search asea, added Martov.

Body fragments of pilots and over 100 aircraft wreckage including large fragments of fuselage were found in the course of search operation.

Pacific Fleet's aircraft Tu-142M3 performing training mission over Khabarovsky Krai on Nov 6, disappeared from radars at 02:19 pm Moscow time and fell down in Tatarskiy Strait near Cape Sadinga north Silantyev Bay. There were 11 men on board the aircraft. According to primary lead, technical failure caused the accident. PF Military Investigative Department initiated a criminal case on the basis of clause 351 of RF Criminal Code ("Violation of flight rules and pre-flight instructions"), providing penalty of confinement for a term up to 7 years. Pacific and Northern Fleets naval aviation temporarily aborted flights of Tu-142.

Tu-142 (on NATO classification – Bear-F) is a long-range antisubmarine aircraft commissioned in Navy in 1971. Designed in 1968 for search, detection and destruction of enemy's submarines; it is based on long-range bomber Tu-95RTs. First modernized Tu-142M3 was produced in 1975, the last one – in 1994. Distinctive features of M3 variant comparing with basic Tu-142 are improved engines NK-12MP, Zarechye radiohydroacoustic subsystem, coupled gun mount with sighting post and few constructional upgrades including upgraded cockpit design and provided pods for UPLAB drill bombs, UMGT-1 torpedoes and APR-2 missiles instead of AT-2M torpedoes.

TU-142M3 PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Wingspan – 50.04 m,
Length – 53.07 m,
Height – 14.47 m,
Wing area – 289.90 sq m,
Empty weight – 91 800 kg,
Maximum takeoff weight – 18 5000 kg,
Engine type – 4 TVD NK-12MP (MV),
Engine thrust – 4 x 15 000 kgf,
Peak speed – 800 kph,
Course speed – 705 kph,
Patrol speed – 450 kph,
Operational range – 10 050 km,
Operational radius of action – 6 500 km,
Operating ceiling – 13 500 m,
Crew – 10,
Armament: two 23-mm guns GSh-23 with sighting post of Tu-22M2 aircraft,
Combat load – 8 845 kg in two weapons sections.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Tu-142M3 (airwar.ru)