Accident Sequence
A twin-engine aircraft approached the runway with a wrong configuration. It crossed the threshold at a height of 20 meters. At a distance of 300 meters from the runway end, the flight engineer, who was acting as the copilot, reduced power on both engines above idle. The captain then took over control, increased engine power to maximum, and initiated a go-around procedure. At that moment, the left engine autofeathered. While flying at 170 km/h, the aircraft banked left to an angle of 70 degrees, stalled, and crashed 1,526 meters past the runway end. The accident resulted in seven occupants being injured and two others killed, including one pilot.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the copilot scheduled for the flight was intoxicated when he started his duty. Consequently, he was removed from the flight and replaced by the flight engineer, who occupied the right seat at the time of the accident. The crew violated procedures by reducing the operating mode of both engines, followed by a sudden increase in power, which caused the left engine to automatically feather. Several contributing factors were identified: poor crew interactions and coordination, errors in landing calculations, poor approach configuration, a disproportionate reaction from the captain, and the replacement of the copilot by the flight engineer due to the copilot's intoxication.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause states: It was determined that the copilot was intoxicated when he started his duty and was revoked for this flight and replaced by the flight engineer who was in the right seat at the time of the accident. The crew violation of reducing the operating mode of both engines followed by a sudden increase in power resulted in the left engine being automatically feathered. The following contributing factors were reported: - Poor crew interactions and coordination; - Errors in landing calculations; - Poor approach configuration; - Disproportionate reaction from the captain; - The replacement of the copilot by the flight engineer due to his incapacity to fly because he was intoxicated.