What happened
During a nighttime approach to Moscow-Vnukovo, the flight crew encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by low cloud ceilings and restricted visibility. While attempting to land on runway 02, the aircraft descended beneath the established glide path. The plane subsequently collided with treetops and crashed into a forested area approximately 1,400 meters before reaching the runway threshold. The impact and a subsequent intense fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft type. Of the individuals on board, there was only one survivor, while the rest of the passengers and crew perished.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was improper approach techniques employed by the flight crew, which led to the aircraft descending below the safe glide slope in low-visibility conditions. Several contributing factors were identified during the inquiry:
- The crew's performance was significantly degraded due to fatigue and excessive workload.
- The pilots had been on duty since 13:50, accumulating 5 hours and 53 minutes of flying time without adequate rest.
- The co-pilot lacked sufficient flight experience for the mission.
- Environmental factors, including nighttime operations and a cloud layer descending to just 60 meters above the ground, further complicated the approach.