What happened
During a scheduled flight originating in Riga with an intermediate stop in Leningrad, the aircraft began its final approach to Kirov under nighttime conditions and visibility levels that were below established minimums. As the flight progressed on final approach, the aircraft descended beneath the required glide path. During this descent, the captain deactivated the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) despite the alarms sounding in the cockpit.
The aircraft subsequently struck treetops approximately 1,700 meters before reaching the inner marker. This impact led to an aerodynamic stall, resulting in the crash in a forested region located 2,165 meters from the runway threshold. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft. Of the 39 people on board, there were 5 fatalities and 23 injuries among the passengers and crew.
Findings
Investigations determined that the flight crew attempted to execute an approach despite weather conditions failing to meet minimum safety requirements. The primary factor in the accident was the decision by the captain to disable the ground proximity warning system while the aircraft was already deviating from the glide path, which prevented the crew from responding to the terrain warnings before the collision with trees occurred.