Incident Overview
A test flight conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Aeronautical Industry (MAP – Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoi Promyshlennosti – Minaviaprom) ended in tragedy when a malfunction during cargo release procedures caused the aircraft to break up in flight and crash.
The crew consisted of four testers and five crew members, totaling nine occupants. While cruising at a relatively low altitude at a speed of 400 km/h, the crew attempted to open the cargo hatch. However, the lock of the fastening system fitting the rail jammed, preventing normal operation.
Sequence of Events
As a result of the jammed lock, the cargo became stuck in the cargo hold. In the ensuing chaos, four parachutes attached to the cargo deployed inside the aircraft. The sudden deployment inflicted severe structural damage to the fuselage and led to the separation of the tail section. The aircraft went out of control, plunged to the ground, and crashed with a huge explosion at the edge of a wooded area located one kilometer north of a village. All nine occupants were killed in the accident.
Investigation
The investigation into the accident focused on the mechanical failure of the cargo hatch locking mechanism and the unintended parachute deployment that followed. No further details regarding causal factors were provided in the official source.