What happened
During the final approach phase toward Liepaja Airport, the flight crew encountered difficulties locating the runway and approach lighting systems. At an altitude of approximately 300 meters and maintaining a speed of 300 km/h, the captain initiated a go-around procedure to re-establish visual contact with the landing strip.
As the pilot increased engine power to execute the maneuver, the left engine experienced a failure. This loss of power caused the aircraft type to bank toward the left at an angle of 40 degrees. The resulting increase in drag led to a significant loss of altitude. The aircraft impacted the snow-covered terrain approximately 1,800 meters beyond the outer marker.
Following the initial impact, the plane bounced and collided with a telegraph pole, which resulted in the destruction of three meters of the left wing. The wreckage continued to travel for an additional 1,410 meters before ultimately crashing in an open field and catching fire. The accident resulted in 43 fatalities and 8 survivors. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the sequence of events.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was the failure of the left engine. While the specific reason for this malfunction remained unconfirmed, it is suspected that a component within the turbine may have failed.