What happened
During a night-time local training mission, an aircraft carrying seven people—comprising six pilots and one instructor—was performing an approach to Ulyanovsk-Baratayevka Airport. As the flight progressed through icing conditions, the airplane experienced a stall. The subsequent impact occurred approximately 400 meters from the airfield, resulting in a post-crash fire that partially destroyed the airframe.
The accident resulted in four fatalities and left three injured.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that significant ice accumulation, measuring between 10 to 15 millimeters, was present on the wings. This buildup of ice was a primary factor in the loss of lift that led to the stall at a low altitude.
Official conclusions identified improper flight techniques during the transition from instrument-based flying to visual references as the central issue. Several contributing elements were noted by investigators, including:
- A lack of clear command structure and direction regarding flight controls between the crew members.
- The absence of a standardized training methodology during the mission.
- An atmosphere of complacency involving the instructor, which led to diminished self-discipline.
- Inadequate understanding of how the aircraft's aerodynamic performance changes under icing conditions.
- Insufficient altitude to successfully recover from the stall once it occurred.