What happened
A cargo flight originating from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport was en route to Ermolino, with scheduled stops at Ust-Ilimsk and Omsk. The aircraft was transporting a heavy load consisting of 8.6 tons of fish, two automobiles, and two minibuses, along with 14 passengers and 9 crew members.
During the night approach into Ust-Ilimsk Airport, the flight encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by low cloud cover and icing. As the aircraft was on short final for landing, it experienced a sudden nose-down movement and struck the crest of a hill approximately 2.1 km before reaching the runway. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the four-engine aircraft and caused 23 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary cause was an aerodynamic stall resulting from an approach speed that was too low. Several contributing factors were noted during the inquiry:
- The aircraft departed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk at a weight exceeding the maximum takeoff weight by 7.4 tons.
- Severe weather conditions, including icing and visibility below established minimums, hindered the approach.
- The crew failed to adhere to approved operational procedures.
- There was evidence of poor coordination and insufficient interaction between the flight crew members.
- The experience levels of the co-pilot and the navigator were deemed insufficient for the mission requirements.