50 fatalities

2013-11-17: BOEING 737 (VQ-BBN) — ОАО "Авиакомпания "Татарстан" — территория международного аэродрома Казань

территория международного аэродрома Казань

On November 17, 2013, a BOEING 737 (registration VQ-BBN) operated by ОАО "Авиакомпания "Татарстан" was involved in an aviation accident near территория международного аэродрома Казань. 50 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: пилота-инструктора: «может продолжать полёты в качестве КВС», оценка «пять». Установлено, что данная проверка по факту не проводилась 5 , а просто была внесена запись в летную книжку, так как выходил срок действия предыдущей проверки (07.06.2013). This summary draws on records from the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK).

Sourcesthe Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK)Primary reportUpdated 1779712610Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered VQ-BBN
Aircraft registered VQ-BBN. Photo: Sergey Kustov / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On 17 November 2013, a Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737-500 operated a regular passenger flight from Kazan to Moscow Domodedovo. The crew passed medical checks, obtained weather briefings, and conducted a normal flight with an automatic approach and landing in challenging wind conditions.

Pre-flight Procedures

On 17 November 2013, the crew of Tatarstan Airlines, consisting of a captain and a first officer, operated a scheduled domestic passenger flight TAK 364/363 on a Boeing 737-500 (registration VQ-B BN). The route was Kazan (UWKD) – Moscow Domodedovo (UUDD) – Kazan (UWKD). At 10:10, all crew members passed a medical check at the Kazan airport medical station, with no health concerns noted. After the medical check, the crew began their duties according to standard procedures. At 10:26, the captain attended a meteorological briefing and received documentation for the flight route, Domodedovo arrival airport, and the alternate airport Pulkovo (St. Petersburg). Weather conditions met established requirements and did not preclude a departure decision.

Flight to Moscow

The aircraft departed from Kazan at 11:22 (flight TAK 364). The flight from Kazan to Domodedovo proceeded normally, with no remarks from air traffic control. Descent from 6,000 feet was conducted in turbulent conditions.

Approach and Landing

At the time of approach and landing at Domodedovo, complex wind conditions prevailed near the surface. Actual weather at the airport at 12:44 (aircraft landing at 12:43) included surface wind 240° at 7 m/s gusting to 11 m/s, wind at 100 m altitude 240° at 13 m/s, and wind at circuit altitude 280° at 25 m/s. Wind shear was observed at 60 m altitude, with moderate turbulence near the surface. The approach was flown automatically; the autopilot was disconnected by the crew at an indicated altitude of approximately 80 meters. The landing was performed without deviations. No aircraft system failures or malfunctions were recorded during the Kazan–Moscow flight, and the crew reported no issues with the aircraft systems.

Post-landing

After landing and passenger disembarkation, the crew proceeded to their next duties.