What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, a single-engine aircraft departed Kapan Airport at 14:38 local time. The flight was scheduled to travel to Yerevan, with planned intermediate stops at Goris and Sisian. On board were two crew members and 14 passengers, including three children.
During the initial climb phase, which reached an altitude of approximately 200 meters, the pilot executed a sharp right turn with a 40-degree bank. Following this maneuver, the aircraft was unable to maintain sufficient altitude, leading the plane into a gorge. Although the co-pilot attempted to intervene and regain control of the aircraft, the captain continued to apply pressure, preventing the proper execution of recovery procedures. As the mountain became visible to the crew, a final right turn was attempted; however, the aircraft struck trees and burst into flames upon impact in a forested region. The wreckage was located 5.5 km away from the planned flight path.
The accident resulted in one fatality among the adult passengers, while the remaining 15 occupants sustained injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the captain had pressured the co-pilot to provide false testimony to the board of inquiry by claiming an engine failure had occurred. Subsequent analysis of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. The co-pilot eventually admitted that his initial statement was inaccurate and confirmed that the pilot-in-command had failed to follow established departure procedures for Kapan Airport. Additionally, high ambient temperatures were identified as a contributing factor to the incident.