Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, an aircraft operating a takeoff from Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport encountered difficulties shortly after liftoff. The departure was conducted in low clouds and snowfall conditions.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 250 km/h and climbed to an altitude of 30–50 meters. It then adopted an excessive nose-up attitude and began banking left and right. In a high angle of attack, the aircraft continued for a distance of approximately 5,300 meters before losing height. The base of the tail struck the ground, and the aircraft became uncontrollable. It crashed at a speed of 200 km/h in a snow-covered field, rolling for about 210 meters and coming to rest 290 meters to the right of the extended runway centerline.
Occupant Casualties and Injuries
Five crew members and a policeman (Major by the Interior Ministry of the Republic of Armenia) were killed. Twenty-six other occupants were injured, some seriously. Fifty-four other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was poor flight preparation and lack of coordination, resulting in the crew failing to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and failing to deploy the flaps prior to departure, as per published procedures. It appears that the crew precipitated the takeoff manoeuvre, which was considered a contributing factor.