Accident Details
After a heavy maintenance program at the Rostov-on-Don Manufacture Plant, the aircraft was returning to Ufa carrying a crew of four. The departure from Rostov Airport was initiated at night in poor visibility due to thick fog. Following a normal takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command began rotation at a speed of 200 km/h and continued climbing in zero visibility. At an altitude of about 220 meters, a left turn was initiated, and the airplane rolled left to an angle of 25–30 degrees. At a speed of 325 km/h, flaps were selected up, at which point inconsistent actions occurred between the pilot-in-command and the copilot. The copilot attempted to reduce the roll to acceptable values, resulting in the rudder trim being positioned to the right-hand limit. The airplane then became unstable. The crew reduced engine operation to nominal values and noticed a discrepancy between the readings of the left and right artificial horizons. While attempting to determine which artificial horizon gave erroneous readings, the airplane entered a left turn and crashed at a speed of 430 km/h in an open field located 1,750 meters past the runway end, 17 seconds after liftoff. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all four occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the loss of control during initial climb resulted from an anomaly in the captain's artificial horizon, either due to misreading on his part or a problem with the power supply system. Investigators stated that the accident occurred through visibility below minimums and that the crew's decision to fly by night under such conditions was unjustified. It was also noted that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and that the pilot precipitated the departure, which remained a contributing factor insofar as certain procedures were neglected.