What happened
A night flight originating from Dyagilevo AFB (Ryazan) experienced a critical failure shortly after departing for Belgorod. The aircraft, which was operated with a total of nine crew members on board, suffered an intense fire in the number four engine during the initial climb phase.
In response to the emergency, the crew attempted to perform an emergency landing by returning to the airfield. However, the aircraft became uncontrollable during the maneuver. The plane impacted the ground approximately one kilometer from the airbase, where the resulting impact and subsequent post-crash fire consumed the wreckage. The accident resulted in five fatalities and left four crew members seriously injured.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the loss of control was the fire in the number four engine that occurred during the takeoff sequence.