Accident Overview
The aircraft departed Yerevan-Zvartnots Airport at 0838LT bound for Stepanavan. Weather conditions along the first part of the route were marginal and deteriorated over the mountains, with clouds and rain. While cruising at an altitude of 2,320 meters in the clouds, the pilot executed a left turn. The airplane then struck the slope of a mountain located 10 km southwest of Stepanavan Airport. Both pilots and a passenger sustained injuries, while all 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident was the consequence of poor flight preparation by the flight crew and the company's operations. This resulted in a violation of published procedures, as the crew decided to fly in the clouds without any visual reference to the ground. Additionally, information regarding weather conditions that was transmitted to the crew did not reflect the true situation, which was considered a contributing factor.
Passenger Count Discrepancy
The aircraft was reported to be carrying 12 adults and 5 children (aged 3 months to 5 years). This exceeded the aircraft's certification, which is for 12 passengers only (both adults and children), and did not comply with published procedures.