What happened
While operating a flight from Ivano-Frankivsk toward Uzhgorod, the crew received notification that Uzhgorod Airport was unavailable for landing because of adverse weather. Consequently, the flight was redirected to Mukachevo Airport.
During the approach phase, the aircraft encountered icing conditions and cloud cover. As the crew prepared for landing by extending the flaps to 38°, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of longitudinal stability. The plane subsequently transitioned into a steep nose-down descent, falling at an angle of 70° with a velocity of 230 km/h. The aircraft struck an open field approximately 100 meters beyond the outer marker. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and 24 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash concluded that the loss of control was triggered by ice accumulation on the stabilizers. While the aircraft was flying through icing conditions, the deicing systems were not active. This buildup of ice caused the plane to become unstable when the crew adjusted the flaps during the approach. At an altitude of roughly 200 meters, the resulting nose-down attitude left the crew with insufficient time or altitude to recover before impact.