What happened
During a nighttime approach to Gyumri Airport, the flight crew encountered weather conditions that were below the required minimums for landing. In response to the poor visibility, the crew attempted to execute a go-around procedure. However, this maneuver was initiated too late in the sequence. As a result, the aircraft experienced a stall and impacted a river bed situated approximately 2,990 meters beyond the runway threshold. The accident resulted in 35 fatalities and one passenger sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical contributing factors involving both operational procedures and aircraft loading. At the time of the incident, visibility was recorded at only 200 metres, which was below the legal minimums. The crew failed to adhere to published approach procedures, leading to an unstable approach where the aircraft was not correctly aligned with the runway centerline. Furthermore, the decision to perform the go-around occurred too late to prevent the stall.
Additional safety violations were noted regarding the weight and stability of the flight. The aircraft was found to be overloaded during both the takeoff and landing phases. Within the cargo compartment, two vehicles had not been properly secured for flight. Discrepancies in passenger documentation were also discovered, as the aircraft was carrying 31 passengers despite the manifest only accounting for five individuals.