What happened
The flight originated from Sochi-Adler Airport late in the afternoon as a cargo mission transporting supplies to military personnel stationed in Crimea. During the approach phase toward the destination, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions that rendered all intended landing areas inaccessible. Consequently, the captain initiated a return to Sochi. As visibility and conditions continued to worsen, a direct landing at Adler became impossible, prompting a diversion to Sukhumi. However, authorities at Sukhumi refused clearance for the aircraft to land. Facing these constraints, the crew ultimately decided to attempt a return to Adler Airport.
During the final approach at night, while descending at an altitude of 500 metres, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain situated approximately 16 kilometres north of the airport near Matsesta. The impact resulted in the fatalities of all six crew members on board.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by controlled flight into terrain while the crew attempted to land in weather conditions below minimum standards. Several contributing factors were identified in the official report:
- An inaccurate weather forecast issued by the Adler Airport station, which failed to reflect the adverse conditions encountered during the return leg.
- The unjustified shutdown of the Direction Finder at Sukhumi Airport, which was the sole navigation aid available for beyond visual line-of-sight operations on that complex route profile.
- The refusal by Sukhumi ground services to accept the aircraft, a decision attributed to an unwillingness to manage night operations and associated equipment requirements.
- A lack of adequate operational control from the ground regarding the aircraft's flight path.