Accident Summary
A circular training flight conducted at night from Tbilisi-Alekseyevka Airport ended in a crash when the trainee pilot deviated from the approach pattern and glide path. The aircraft struck the top of a hill located 4.8 kilometers northwest of the airport, broke up, came to rest on the slope, and caught fire.
Occupants and Casualties
The flight carried a crew of three and six unauthorized passengers. Three crew members and one passenger were killed. The remaining six occupants sustained slight injuries.
Sequence of Events
During the training flight, the trainee pilot deviated from the established approach pattern and glide path. This deviation led the aircraft to impact the top of a hill with an elevation of 175 meters. The hill was not indicated on the flight map. After impact, the aircraft broke apart and subsequently caught fire.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be pilot error.