What happened
During a nighttime approach to Lviv Airport, an aircraft encountered significant icing conditions and restricted visibility. While performing the final stage of the landing sequence at an altitude of approximately 110 meters, the crew extended the flaps to 45°. Following this configuration change, the aircraft experienced a sudden nose-down movement. The plane struck a field located 2,100 meters before reaching the runway threshold, resulting in a massive explosion. The impact caused the total disintegration of the aircraft type and led to 40 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the aircraft suffered a loss of control during the approach phase. This instability occurred specifically when the flaps were set to 45° while operating in icing conditions. The primary factor was identified as excessive ice accumulation on the wings and stabilizers, which prevented the crew from recovering the aircraft before it struck the ground.