Cargo Flight Crash in Belgrade Due to Electrical Failure (RA-76513)

Incident Overview and Flight Details The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Yekaterinburg to Africa, with planned stops in Belgrade and Luqa, Malta. The flight carried two passengers, 10 crew members, and a cargo load consisting of aircraft tires and squibs. Following a night takeoff from Belgrade-Surčin Airport, the crew reported technical problems to air traffic control, specifically noting the loss of all electrical power. The aircraft entered a holding pattern for approximately 2.5 hours before the crew attempted to land. Due to poor weather conditions, visibility was low during the approach. On short final, the aircraft, which had no headlights, struck the ground and crashed 800 meters short of the runway, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants on board were killed in the accident. ## Official Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by a pre-takeoff error. While preparing the flight prior to departure from Belgrade-Surčin Airport, the crew failed to switch on the VU-6A AC/DC converter after starting the engines. This oversight caused the 27-volt electrical system to be continuously powered by the batteries. Once the batteries were depleted, all avionics and boosters lost power, leading to the loss of electrical systems during the flight.