What happened
A flight departing from Stalingrad-Gumrak Airport for a scheduled meteorological mission ended in a fatal accident near Pervoye Maya. While operating at an altitude of 4,000 meters amidst marginal weather conditions, the captain initiated a climb to 5,200 meters. During this phase of flight, the crew performed maneuvers that did not comply with standard operating procedures. These actions caused the aircraft to enter a stall, which subsequently transitioned into a dive.
In an attempt to recover the aircraft from the descent, the captain tried to regain control; however, the plane struck a snow-covered field approximately 85 km northeast of the departure airport. The impact resulted in a massive explosion and the total disintegration of the aircraft. There were five fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the accident was driven by the captain's decision to permit maneuvers that created an unmanageable flight state. This lack of oversight, combined with the pilot's insufficient experience, led directly to the aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash.