Aircraft Crash During Approach at Utrenniy Airport (RA-26662)

Flight Details and Approach Sequence The aircraft departed Sabetta on a charter flight to Utrenniy, carrying 36 passengers and five crew members. After an uneventful flight, the crew began descent in marginal weather. On final approach, the copilot reported an altitude of 300 metres and a stabilized aircraft. At 80 metres, the navigator noted the aircraft was descending below the glide path, and the captain confirmed the runway was in sight. ## Impact and Aftermath At 2,150 metres from the runway threshold, the radio altimeter alarm sounded for five seconds. On short final, as speed decreased from 220 km/h to 165 km/h, the captain initiated a go-around, pitching the aircraft up to 20°. Speed dropped to 125 km/h, and at too low an altitude, the left main landing gear struck a snowbank 955 metres short of runway 19 threshold. The aircraft hit the snow-covered ground with 2.2 G positive acceleration, pivoted left, and came to rest broken in two, 865 metres from the threshold. All 41 occupants were rescued, with three injured, including both pilots. ## Official Findings The accident occurred during an approach in meteorological conditions below the airport's established minimum operational limits, resulting in the aircraft landing approximately 955 metres short of the runway threshold and colliding with a snow barrier. Contributing factors included the flight commander's decision to continue the approach despite below-minimum weather, the crew's failure to maintain stabilized approach criteria and go around when necessary, descending below the minimum descent altitude with insufficient visual contact, the flight commander's error in recognizing the runway and landmarks, poor crew coordination, and insufficient crew resource management by the flight commander.