Fatal crash of charter flight near Isfahan, Iran

44 fatalities • Isfahan, Iran • Landing (descent or approach)

A charter flight traveling from Kharkiv to Isfahan crashed into a mountainside during its night approach, resulting in the deaths of all 44 people on board.

What happened

A charter flight originating from Kharkiv Airport was en route to Isfahan, Iran, via an intermediate stop in Trabzon. The aircraft was transporting a group of 38 passengers and six crew members, all of whom were engineers employed by Antonov. The purpose of the mission was to travel to Isfahan to perform test flights on the prototype Iran-140, an aircraft produced under license by the HESA Company.

During the final approach to Isfahan Airport, the aircraft was operating at night under marginal weather conditions. While descending, the aircraft type struck a mountain slope approximately 30 km from the destination airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were 44 fatalities and no survivors among the passengers and crew.

Findings

  • The accident occurred during the descent phase of flight.
  • Environmental factors included nighttime operations and poor visibility due to marginal weather.
  • The flight was part of a specialized mission to facilitate testing of the locally produced Iran-140 prototype.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck terrain during a night descent under marginal weather conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2002-12-23 Antonov AN-140 accident near Isfahan, Iran?

A charter flight traveling from Kharkiv to Isfahan crashed into a mountainside during its night approach, resulting in the deaths of all 44 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 2002-12-23 Antonov AN-140 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 44 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-12-23 involved a Antonov AN-140, registration UR-14003, operated by Aeromist Kharkov, at Isfahan, Iran.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft struck terrain during a night descent under marginal weather conditions.

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