What happened
On a scheduled flight traveling from Stalingrad toward Moscow-Vnukovo, an aircraft carrying 20 passengers and five crew members encountered critical mechanical issues. While maintaining an altitude of 2,200 meters within cloud cover, the flight crew notified air traffic control regarding a malfunction in the right engine. In response to this emergency, the crew requested and received authorization to divert the flight to Voronezh Airport.
During the subsequent descent to 900 meters, the situation escalated when the right engine ignited. This fire caused the structural failure of the right wing, resulting in a rapid dive. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 4 km from the runway threshold. The impact caused the plane to disintegrate, and there were 25 fatalities among all occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the right engine had only completed 250 hours of operation and was a new component. Despite its recent installation, the engine exhibited cracks and defects. The investigation concluded that a fuel leak developed during the flight, which led to an oil shortage. This deficiency caused the engine to overheat and eventually explode. The resulting fire spread from the engine nacelle to the right wing, causing it to detach from the airframe.