What happened
A cargo operation flying from Chersky toward Zyrianka ended in a fatal accident during the takeoff phase. The aircraft was transporting eight wooden copper coils along with a crew of five and two loadmasters. As the plane accelerated down the runway, the pilot initiated rotation at 200 km/h, which was below the calculated rotation speed of 215 km/h.
After lifting off, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 150 meters before entering a stall. The plane veered to the right and struck a hotel situated near the airport. A massive explosion followed the impact, and a subsequent fire completely destroyed both the aircraft and the building. All seven occupants on board perished in the accident, though there were no reported injuries to individuals on the ground.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the loss of control and subsequent stall were triggered by improperly secured cargo shifting toward the rear of the cabin. The wooden copper coils were not fastened according to established safety protocols; instead, they were only held in place by an onboard winch cable. This movement caused the aircraft's center of gravity to move outside of its safe operating limits.
Several human factors contributed to the disaster:
- The loadmasters failed to use necessary equipment, such as belts or nets, to stabilize the load.
- The co-pilot did not provide adequate oversight during the loading process.
- The captain proceeded with the takeoff despite the known improper securing of the cargo.