Background
A second charter flight was arranged from Novosibirsk to Moscow to accommodate additional passengers arriving from Yakutsk. Heavy snowfall persisted throughout the day, resulting in approximately 15 mm of ice accumulation on all aircraft at the airport. During taxiing, an additional layer of 8 to 10 mm of snow accumulated on the airplane.
Accident Sequence
The takeoff run was reported as normal. After rotation, the aircraft climbed to an estimated height of about 100 meters. It then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion approximately 900 meters past the departure runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent post-crash fire. All 23 occupants on board were killed.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the aircraft was covered by ice and snow, and that the following areas were polluted and contaminated: leading edges, trailing edges, ailerons, wings, fuselage, tail, and stabilizers. Under these conditions, the aircraft was unable to climb in a safe manner. The investigation also pointed out the following findings: the crew neglected certain procedures related to flight preparation; the crew failed to inspect the aircraft before departure and failed to ensure proper deicing; flight preparation and organization were poor; weather conditions were poor; and appropriate measures were not taken to clean the aircraft before takeoff.