What happened
On December 26, 1993, Kuban Airlines Flight 5719 was operating a scheduled international route from Krasnodar International Airport in Russia to Gyumri Shirak International Airport in Armenia. The aircraft, a Tupolev Tu-154M with the registration RA-85526, carried 36 people on board, including passengers and crew.
During the final approach to Gyumri Shirak International Airport, the flight crew initiated a go-around maneuver. However, the aircraft stalled shortly after commencing this procedure. The loss of lift led to an uncontrolled descent, resulting in a crash into the terrain near the airport.
The impact was severe. Of the 36 occupants on board, 35 lost their lives instantly or from injuries sustained during the crash. Only one person survived the accident, though they sustained serious injuries.
Investigation
Aviation authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine the cause of the stall and subsequent impact. The investigation focused on the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, as well as weather conditions and air traffic control communications at the time of the incident.
The inquiry established that the aircraft stalled during the critical phase of the go-around. Factors such as pilot error, weather conditions, or mechanical issues were examined to understand why the stall occurred and why it was not recovered in time to prevent the crash.