What happened
During a nighttime approach to Saratov-Tsentralny Airport, the flight encountered challenging meteorological conditions, including fog, low cloud layers ranging from 100 to 1,000 meters, and active icing. While the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 400 meters, it experienced a sudden change in attitude, with the nose pitching down to an angle between 7 and 9 degrees followed by a right-hand roll. At the time of this maneuver, the landing gear and flaps were not extended.
The aircraft entered a rapid descent characterized by high vertical speed, eventually impacting the ground 13 km before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, with debris located 1,300 meters to the right of the intended approach path. The crash resulted in 57 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the aircraft had been flying through icing conditions for a duration of 3 minutes and 50 seconds. During this period, an accumulation of 15 millimeters of ice formed on the wings and fuselage. The aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of 240-260 km/h when the loss of control occurred.
It was determined that excessive ice accumulation significantly altered the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, leading to the uncontrolled roll and subsequent descent. While the flaps remained retracted during the approach, the specific reason for this configuration could not be established by investigators.