What happened
During an approach to Minsk-1 Airport, the aircraft encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by low visibility, a low cloud ceiling, and active icing. While performing the final approach at a speed of 140 km/h, the aircraft maintained a slight nose-down attitude before impacting the ground. The crash occurred in a snow-covered field situated approximately 5,280 meters before reaching the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Out of all occupants on board, 11 fatalities were recorded initially, though two of the three survivors later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 13. Only one individual survived the initial event.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary factor was the premature deactivation of deicing systems while the aircraft was still operating in icing conditions with the flaps set at 38°. This action led to a loss of longitudinal stability, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. Additionally, it was noted that necessary flight testing regarding the plane's stability and control characteristics during icing encounters had not been performed.