On December 23, 2002, an Antonov AN-140 (registration UR-14003) operated by Aeromist Kharkov was involved in an aviation accident near Isfahan, Iran during landing or approach. 44 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain after the pilots failed to use properly the GPS system installed in the cockpit. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft on a charter flight from Kharkiv to Isfahan, carrying engineers to conduct test flights on an Iran-140 prototype, struck a mountain while descending in night and marginal weather. All 44 occupants were killed.
Accident Details
An aircraft departed Kharkiv Airport on a charter flight to Isfahan, Iran, with an intermediate stop in Trabzon. The flight carried 38 passengers and six crew members, all of whom were engineers working for Antonov. They were traveling to Isfahan to conduct test flights on the first Iran-140, a prototype built under license by HESA Company.
While descending to Isfahan Airport by night and in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 30 kilometers from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all 44 occupants were killed.
Official Findings
The investigation determined the probable cause of the accident as controlled flight into terrain after the pilots failed to use the GPS system installed in the cockpit properly.