What happened
During a nighttime departure from Anapa Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude shortly after takeoff. The incident began when the crew retracted the flaps before the appropriate time, leading to a descent that caused the plane to impact trees. This collision occurred approximately 1,250 meters beyond the runway threshold and 150 meters to the right of the extended centerline. Although the impact resulted in damage to the stabilizer and the left engine, the flight crew managed to regain altitude.
After completing a brief traffic pattern, the aircraft attempted a return to Anapa Airport. During this phase, the airplane entered a stall and crashed into shallow water in the vicinity of Vityazevo, situated roughly 6 km west of the airport. The accident took place approximately seven minutes after the initial liftoff. The impact resulted in nine fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The primary factor contributing to the initial loss of altitude was the premature retraction of flaps following takeoff.