What happened
During a local training mission departing from Pskov Air Base, an aircraft carrying eight crew members and three passengers encountered a critical emergency. The flight was also transporting a cargo of ammunition at the time of the incident. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb phase, the crew notified air traffic control that a fire had broken out inside the cabin.
In response to the emergency, the crew was granted permission to return to the airfield for an unplanned landing. However, during the descent and approach, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane struck a wooded area situated approximately 3.4 km from the airport, landing 480 metres to the left of the extended centerline. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate and burst into flames. There were 11 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors recorded.
Findings
- The primary emergency was triggered by an in-flight fire that occurred during the initial climb.
- The aircraft lost control during the attempt to execute an emergency landing at the departure airfield.