What happened
During an approach to Zaporozhie Airport under marginal weather conditions, the aircraft experienced a loss of control during the final phase of flight. Although visibility was approximately 4 km—which remained above the required minimums—the aircraft was not correctly aligned with the glide slope. As the plane reached an altitude of roughly 40 meters, the pilot attempted a go-around by increasing engine thrust and initiating a right-hand turn.
However, this maneuver failed to prevent the aircraft from impacting the ground in a field located just before the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The accident led to 7 fatalities, including one crew member and six passengers, while 28 injuries were reported among the other occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the captain began the approach too early, which caused the plane to descend below the established glide path at an inadequate height. The pilot failed to adhere to air traffic control instructions and disregarded several warnings issued by the navigator during the descent. Additionally, a lack of effective communication and coordination between the flight crew was identified as a significant contributing factor to the crash.