What happened
A cargo operation traveling from Nizhnevartovsk to Gomel, with scheduled stops in Sverdlovsk and Saransk, ended in an accident during the initial climb. The aircraft was transporting 2,100 kilograms of various goods along with a crew of six. During the night departure from Saransk Airport, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 150 meters, the aircraft began a left-hand turn. Shortly thereafter, the plane lost altitude and struck the ground at a speed of 390 km/h, roughly two kilometers beyond the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft, and all six crew members sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors. The pilot-in-command mistakenly identified red lights from the localizer and inner marker beacon as anti-collision lights from another approaching plane. This led the pilot to initiate an unnecessary left turn to avoid a non-existent collision, which ultimately caused the loss of control. Additionally, investigators discovered that the aircraft was operating with an incorrect mass and balance; the actual cargo weight was 3,500 kilograms, significantly exceeding the reported 2,100 kilograms.