Accident Sequence
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Ufa to Naryan Mar under contract for Naryanmarneftyegaz, a sister company of Lukoil. The flight included intermediate stops in Perm, Usinsk, and Varandey. While on final approach under visual flight rules (VFR) in good weather conditions, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 170 km/h when it stalled. The left wing then struck a sand dune approximately 3 meters high, causing the aircraft to crash 4,217 meters short of the runway. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames.
Aftermath
The captain, the navigator, and 26 passengers were killed, while 24 other individuals were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by the impact forces and the subsequent post-crash fire. The outside air temperature at the time of the accident was -24°C, and visibility was reported as good.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the accident was the consequence of an aerodynamic stall that occurred on short final at low height due to a combination of factors: the aircraft was in a critical angle of attack, and its speed was insufficient because both engines were running at low regime for more than 20 seconds. Possible errors in the reading of certain instruments, such as the speed indicator and the angle of attack indicator, were identified as contributing factors.