What happened
During a night-time local training session at Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, the crew was performing a series of approaches and landings. Following two completed landings and two subsequent approaches, the flight crew initiated another approach under night conditions. While traveling at 260 km/h, the aircraft transitioned into a nose-down attitude, causing the nose gear to strike the runway surface first. The impact resulted in the nose gear being sheared off.
The aircraft subsequently bounced, reaching an altitude of approximately 10 meters, before descending back onto the runway in a nose-down orientation. This second impact caused the plane to lose control and veer toward the right side of the runway, where it eventually came to a halt while engulfed in flames. The accident resulted in one fatality (the flight mechanic) and four injuries among the remaining occupants. The aircraft sustained partial destruction due to the fire.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the instructor utilized an incorrect approach configuration, maintaining an excessive speed of 260 km/h on final approach and failing to execute a proper flare. This led to the initial nose-down impact. Additionally, investigators discovered that the rear trunk contained only 600 kg of ballast instead of the required 1,000 kg. This discrepancy caused the center of gravity to shift forward, contributing to the aircraft's downward pitch. While researchers examined potential icing conditions, they were unable to confirm if such conditions played a role in the event.