What happened
During a cargo operation traveling from Stalinabad to Kulyab, the aircraft experienced a critical incident approximately twenty minutes after takeoff. A fire ignited on the right wing, which likely originated from a leak in a fuel pipe. The situation escalated rapidly as the fuel tanks located within that wing section exploded. Following these events, the aircraft lost control and dove into the terrain, ultimately crashing into rocks in the Rangon Mountain Range situated southeast of Stalinabad. All three members of the crew were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation by the Tadjik commission attributed the crash to several errors committed by the flight crew. However, a subsequent inspection by NII GVF challenged these conclusions. They suggested that the disaster may have been triggered by a technical malfunction involving a fuel line connected to the right BMW-132 engine, specifically citing issues with the carburetor and/or collector.