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Boeing 747 and some had colours or text associated with Korean Air Lines. Some of the wreckage had an odour of kerosene but none showed evidence of fire.
1.12
1.12.1
Wreckage and impact information
The location of the main wreckage was at position 46°33′32′′N, 141°19′41′′E, 17 NM due north of Moneron Island off the southwest coast of Sakhalin Island. The wreckage area was on an underwater ridge with an average depth of water of 200 m. The wreckage area was in international
waters.
1.12.2
About a month after the accident USSR civilian divers operating out of a drilling ship, the Mikael Mirchink, began inspecting the wreckage primarily to find and recover the flight recorders. These divers had been called to the area after USSR naval divers had located the wreckage on the sea bottom. The ICAO investigation team interviewed the supervisor of this diving team and two of the divers on 12 February 1993.
1.12.3
According to the divers, the sea bottom was sandy and level with a few coral outcrops. The water depth was 174 metres. The visibility was 8 to 10 metres which prevented the divers from getting a general view of the wreckage. The main parts of the wreckage were located in an area approximately 60 metres by 160 metres. The general impression of the divers was that the wreckage was severely fragmented and no large pieces of the aircraft were left intact. Due to the limited visibility and the severe break-up of the aircraft no inventory was made of the main structural parts in the area.
1.12.4
The largest piece recovered was a four-metre long part of the fin. Some larger pieces. (about one metre square) of fuselage skin were also recovered to help identify the aircraft. The divers reported seeing one or two engines and a few wheels. In addition to the scraps of metal, they observed personal effects, such as clothing, documents and wallets. Although some evidence of human remains was noticed by the divers, they found no bodies. After about a week of diving, the divers found and recovered the protected container from the DFDR. Three days later the protected container from the CVR was recovered. These containers were found loose on the sea bottom, not attached to any aircraft structure. The diving operations were gradually reduced and ended in early November 1983.
1.12.5
On 9 February 1993 representatives of Japan made available a video produced in 1992 by a television station located in Hiroshima, Japan. The video contained interviews with the USSR SU-15 fighter pilot and a short footage of the wreckage under water taken from a small submersible craft.
1.12.6
On 11 February 1993 representatives of the Russian Federation made available a video taken in 1983 of the wreckage under water and ninety-three photographs from 1983 of wreckage pieces and personal belongings. Some of the photographs had been taken of the wreckage under water and others displayed items recovered.
1.12.7
Due to the limited visibility under water no general view of wreckage was available from the photographs or the videos. A number of details were displayed which identified the aircraft as a Boeing 747, and other details linked the aircraft to Korean Air Lines.
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