Accident
On a night approach to Novosibirsk-Severny Airport, the crew encountered bad visibility due to fog. During the final approach, the aircraft was 300 meters to the left of the glideslope, and the crew failed to establish visual contact with the runway and ground. In these conditions, the captain decided to abandon the approach and executed a go-around.
A few minutes later, the crew initiated a second approach with a horizontal visibility of 100 meters. Without any visual contact with the ground or the runway, the pilot-in-command continued the approach, descending below the decision height. The aircraft subsequently struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located a few kilometers short of the runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact, but there was no fire. All 29 occupants were killed.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that the visibility was below minima at the time of the accident. Because the crew failed to establish any visual contact with the ground and did not have the runway in sight, it would have been necessary to divert to the alternate airport for a safe landing. Instead, the crew continued the approach without visual contact and descended below the decision height, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was determined to be that the visibility was below minima at the time of the accident. Because the crew failed to establish any visual contact with the ground and did not have the runway in sight, it would be necessary to divert to the alternate airport for a safe landing. Continuing the approach without any visual contact with the ground and passing below the decision height, the crew engaged the aircraft in a controlled flight into terrain.