Mcdonnell Douglas MD-600 accident near Taldykorgan, Kz, January 27, 2016
On January 27, 2016 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-600 (helicopter), registered UPMD004, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taldykorgan. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2016 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-600 N
- Registration
- UPMD004 · no longer on the register · serial RN-012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 27, 2016, about 1747 local time, a McDonnell-Douglas MD-600N helicopter, Kazakhstan registration UP-MD004, registered to LLP Svinestroy and operated by JSC Aspan, impacted terrain under unknown circumstances after requesting to air traffic control to descend to 500 meters. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight departed from Ucharal, and was located 18 kilometers from the intended destination of Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Kazakhstan. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Administration of Kazakhstan Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan Transport-Tower Bldg 47 Kabanbay Batyr Ave. 010000 Astana Republic of Kazakhstan Fax: 8-7172-754408 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained by the Government of Kazakhstan.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
Pilot
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Ucharal
- Destination: Taldykorgan
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.