What happened
On the approach to Almaty Airport runway 23R, an aircraft performing a flight for the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan impacted the ground approximately 600 metres before reaching the runway threshold. The flight had originated from Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport and proceeded without incident until the final stages of the approach. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire.
At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were poor, characterized by a visibility of 5 km and a cloud ceiling of only 300 feet amidst freezing drizzle. The accident resulted in four fatalities and the rescue of two crew members.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in marginal weather conditions involving low visibility and low ceilings.
- The impact occurred during the short final phase of the flight.