Accident Overview
While approaching Akhtubinsk Airport, the pilot-in-command of an AN-26 initiated a go-around for reasons not specified in the investigation. After passing over the airport, air traffic control (ATC) instructed the crew to make a right turn to join the downwind circuit. While cruising at a relatively low altitude south of the airport, the aircraft was struck by an air-to-air missile fired from a Soviet Air Force MiG-23. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control and crash south of the airfield, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants.
Contributing Circumstances
The official investigation determined that the MiG-23 pilot was completing an exercise south of Akhtubinsk Airport and was supposed to use a helicopter as a target. However, ATC at Akhtubinsk Airport transmitted incorrect instructions to the AN-26 crew, directing the pilot to make a right turn to the south. This maneuver caused the aircraft to fly into a military area where the MiG-23 was operating.
Coordination and Communication Failures
The investigation cited a lack of coordination between civil and military personnel as a contributing factor. Additionally, the AN-26 and MiG-23 crews were operating on different radio frequencies, which impeded situational awareness and communication.
Official Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident, as stated in the official findings, includes the transmission of wrong instructions by ATC and the subsequent entry of the AN-26 into a military area, combined with poor civil-military coordination and frequency separation.