What happened
A cargo mission transporting fuel drums from Tashkent to Kabul, with a scheduled stop in Kokand, Uzbekistan, ended in a fatal accident. During the approach to Kabul-Khwasting Airport, air traffic controllers directed the crew of the Ilyushin Il-76 to remain at flight level 190 to allow an Antonov AN-32 to pass through a lower altitude. Following this instruction, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground approximately 7.6 km east of Kabul-Khwaja Rawash Airport. The impact resulted in a massive explosion, and there were nine fatalities with no survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors related to flight management and crew performance. The crew failed to adhere to the recommended speed settings for specific aircraft configurations, which significantly reduced the safety margin regarding the angle of attack. This led to a violation of minimum speed requirements and established flight restrictions.
Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilots lacked sufficient training for managing high angles of attack and were unable to identify or implement recovery procedures to prevent a stall. The operational environment was further complicated by the need to maneuver within tight descent parameters and the presence of other aircraft in close proximity under cloud cover without adequate radar separation. The instruction to temporarily halt the descent to accommodate another aircraft disrupted standard operating procedures, contributing to the loss of control.