What happened
During an approach to Vinnitsa Airport, the flight crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by freezing rain, low cloud cover, and fog. Because visibility was insufficient, the captain initiated a go-around to abandon the initial landing attempt.
A second attempt to land was made shortly thereafter under similar weather circumstances. During this second maneuver, the pilot decided to perform another go-around and requested maximum engine power. As the aircraft transitioned, it experienced a left bank at an angle between 20° and 40°. This movement led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to crash into flames approximately 850 meters before reaching the runway.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and 48 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the loss of control during the short final phase was triggered by an aerodynamic stall. While the precise reason for the stall could not be confirmed with absolute certainty, evidence suggested a potential contributing factor: a delay of approximately three to five seconds occurred between the decision to execute the go-around and the movement of the speed levers to the forward position. This delay in power application is believed to have contributed to the loss of airspeed and subsequent stall.