Incident Overview
A military/cargo aircraft operating a flight from Krasnodar to Kiev crashed while attempting to land at Borispol Airport. The aircraft was carrying a load of fruits and vegetables. To accommodate more cargo, the crew decided to embark with less fuel than normal.
Sequence of Events
En route, the aircraft encountered strong headwinds. The crew initially elected to divert to Dnepropetrovsk Airport but later the captain decided to continue to Kiev. While descending to Borispol Airport, the crew informed air traffic control that they were low on fuel and were cleared for a straight-in approach to runway 36R. For unknown reasons, the captain preferred an approach to runway 18L.
On short final, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled, struck the ground, lost its undercarriage, and came to rest 1,500 metres short of the runway threshold.
Casualties and Damage
One of the pilots was killed, and eight occupants were injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including loss of the undercarriage.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be a double engine failure on short final due to fuel exhaustion. Following poor flight planning and preparation, the crew decided to embark more load and less fuel. The fuel quantity was insufficient for the requested route and flight time.