What happened
On the date of the accident, an aircraft operating on behalf of an oil exploration firm was performing a scheduled flight from Aktyubinsk to Kenkiyak. The flight was carrying a total of 14 people, consisting of 12 passengers and two crew members.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached a rotation speed of 80 km/h after traveling 180 meters along the runway. As the plane entered its initial climb phase at a speed of 120 km/h and an altitude of approximately 5 to 7 meters, it experienced a left bank and a subsequent loss of altitude. The aircraft impacted the ground 210 meters beyond the end of the runway, rolling for roughly 26 meters before coming to a complete stop. The accident resulted in two fatalities and left 12 passengers with serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary factor was an improper weight and balance configuration. While the aircraft had previously been utilized for support missions, this specific flight marked its first use for transporting passengers.
Evidence showed that various pieces of equipment, including batteries and radios, had been relocated to the rear section of the cabin by a local manufacturing facility. This relocation shifted the center of gravity too far toward the rear, exceeding the permitted operational envelope by 4%. Because the aircraft's technical documentation had not been updated to reflect these changes, the crew was unaware that the aircraft's balance had been compromised.