What happened
On the morning of the accident, a cargo flight departed at 07:50 local time, destined for Moscow with an intermediate stop in Kiev. While traveling southbound at an altitude of approximately 150 meters, the aircraft lost its sense of orientation. The pilot-in-command attempted to initiate a return to the departure point, but the aircraft subsequently struck a wooded hill located roughly 7.5 km south of the airport.
At the time of the impact, meteorological conditions were characterized by mist and an overcast ceiling ranging from 100 to 200 meters, with visibility estimated between 2 and 4 km. The flight involved seven fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the crew chose to conduct the flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite being in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The primary factor contributing to the accident was the operation of the aircraft under VFR while flying in IMC conditions, which led to a loss of control.