Sknilov tragedy that occurred during the air show

Fourteen years ago, one of the most terrible incidents in the history of modern Ukraine was the Sknilov tragedy. On July 27, 2002, at the Sknilov airfield, which is located not far from Lviv, an air show was held in honor of the 60th anniversary of the 14th Aviation Corps of the Ukrainian Air Force. Then the fighter of the Su-27UB crashed into the crowd of spectators and exploded. There are still disputes over who is really to blame for the death of 77 people.

Fighter

"Su-27" developed by the end of the 70's, and already from the mid-80's it was actively exploited in the air units of the USSR Air Force. This aircraft is characterized by excellent maneuverability. Using "Su-27", test pilot Eugene Pugachev in Le Bourget demonstrated a new figure of aerobatics - the cobra of Pugachev. It consists in the following: the plane lifts its nose upward, without changing the direction of flight, flies for a while with its tail forward, and then returns to its original position. Of course, for the retraining of pilots was developed training-combat modification "Su-27UB". This aircraft is a two-seater, and the pilots in it sit one after another. It was the Su-27UB that took off about noon from the Ozernoe airfield, which is located near Zhytomyr, and headed towards the Sknilov airfield, where it was to become one of the elements of the airshow program.

The commander of the crew was Colonel Vladimir Anatolyevich Toponar, and the second pilot was Colonel Yury Mikhailovich Egorov. Both had a solid raid: the Topon had about 1900 hours, and Yegorov had 2000. Besides, the commander of the crew from 1996 represented the flying group "Ukrainian Falcons", and no one doubts the professionality of the pilots.

Airshow

According to the idea of the organizers of the air show, in addition to the exhibition of aviation equipment, on that day four planes were to perform demonstration flights. The first were two sports-training "Yak-52", which, after simulating a fight, flew over the grandstand where the guests of honor were. The then commander of the Air Force of Ukraine Viktor Strelnikov ordered to ban spans over people. But it was too late to change anything. The third was to fight a MiG-29 fighter, but its take-off was canceled, and the Su-27UB of the Toponar and Egorov flew to the Sknilov aerodrome.

Sknilov tragedy

At about 12:41 the deputy commander of the 14th Air Corps Anatoly Tretyakov gave the command "start". "Su-27UB" began to decline and made a pass over the spectators' stands. Then he began to perform the first aerobatics figure - a "slanting loop". But the altitude turns out to be dangerous, which the pilots inform the signal of the on-board computer. According to the recording of the flight recorder, after this the crew could not determine where the spectators are.

Then Yegorov decides to execute the "barrel", which will become fatal: the fighter sharply lost altitude. Yury Yatsyuk, who was deputy commander of flights, commands to turn from the ground, but because of this the aircraft also loses speed. Next is the "afterburner" command, but this does not help anymore: the fighter sags and falls. Having hooked the tree on the wing, "S-27UB" crushes the cab of the tanker, wings cut aircraft standing at the airfield. At this moment, the Toponar and Egorov are ejected. Completely uncontrollable fighter crashes into the crowd of spectators and explodes, a terrible fire begins. The hands of the clock showed 12:52.

Effects

The fire and ambulance cars immediately left the scene of the disaster. But many have lost their lives Sknilov tragedy. The death toll totals 77 people, 28 of them children. 543 people were recognized as injured. Shortly after the catastrophe, an investigation was initiated by the commission of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which determined that the main reason is the crew's departure from the scheduled flight task and error in piloting the aircraft.

President of the Air Force Colonel-General Viktor Strelnikov, who was later arrested by the General Prosecutor's Office, was relieved of his post by President Leonid Kuchma . The trial of the surviving pilots and their leaders dragged on until 2005. According to the verdict, the next 14 years of his life, the Toponar had to spend in prison and pay a fine of 7.2 million hryvnia, which was later reduced to 150,000. Yegorov was also sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment and a fine of 2.5 million hryvnia. At the moment, both are already at large. Tretyakov and Yatsyuk were sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and a fine of 700,000 hryvnia.

Anatoly Lukinykh, who was in charge of the flight safety service, was sentenced to 4 years of suspended prison. One of the defendants, who was acquitted, was Oleg Dzyubetsky, who was responsible for training the crew. None of them did not admit their guilt. Four former generals also came to court, including Viktor Strelnikov, but in 2008 they were acquitted. The Sknilov tragedy of 2002 also caused the disbandment of the "Ukrainian Falcons", of which the Toponar was a member. At the moment in Ukraine, demonstration air shows are not held at all. The Sknilov tragedy demonstrated how spectacular airplane performances can turn out because of the negligence of people.

Memory

Victims and relatives of the victims were paid a one-time compensation of about 55 thousand hryvnia. But after that people were simply forgotten. According to Stefan Kozak, head of the public organization "Sknilov tragedy," there is no social custody or rehabilitation for the victims. According to him, some officials answered that, they say, people themselves are to blame, that they went to the air show. They remember them only when the next anniversary of the tragedy comes. At the airport was built a small chapel for donations from around the world and funds of the organization "Sknilov tragedy." Photos of the dead are in it on a poster with the name "77 angels". Their relatives and relatives often come here. Sknilov's tragedy did not go unheeded in the media space. The documentary film "Forgiveness" of the STB television channel tells just about her.

Instead of an epilogue

As mentioned above, none of the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defense was punished. The Sknilov tragedy of 2002, perhaps, sent some of them to the reserve. The court left claims of relatives of the victims and victims without consideration.