Fatal crash of an aircraft near Chisinau due to low altitude in fog (CCCP-L4161)

What happened

While flying en route from Chisinau to Kiev, the aircraft encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by thick fog and significantly reduced visibility. In an apparent attempt to establish visual contact with the terrain, the captain elected to lower the aircraft's altitude. This maneuver caused the plane to strike the slope of a ravine. The impact occurred in a field located 460 meters from the initial point of contact with the ground. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and the deaths of all 16 occupants on board.

Findings

Investigations identified several critical factors contributing to the tragedy. The primary error was the crew's decision to descend below established minimum weather minima while operating in thick fog, where visibility was estimated to be less than 300 meters. At the moment of impact, the engines were still at full power.

Additional findings highlighted operational deficiencies:

• The captain’s recent flying experience was deemed insufficient, with limited total flight hours recorded during the preceding three months.
• Meteorological information provided to the crew prior to departure was inaccurate and failed to reflect the true severity of the weather conditions.