Incident Overview
On the second leg of a scheduled flight originating from Yerevan and destined for Akhalkalaki, a single-engine aircraft departed Leninakan Airport at 0954 local time. The weather conditions were reported as good throughout the duration of the flight segment.
Flight Progression and Loss of Control
Eight minutes after takeoff, while cruising in stable atmospheric conditions, the flight crew communicated their position to air traffic control (ATC). At this point, the aircraft was located approximately 20 kilometers north of Leninakan. Four minutes later, the aircraft exhibited erratic behavior, initially losing altitude before climbing again. The plane subsequently banked alternately to the left and right before nosing down sharply.
Crash Site and Casualties
The aircraft impacted a mountainous terrain near the village of Sesapar, situated roughly 30 kilometers north of Leninakan. Upon impact, the plane crashed in flames with a nose-down attitude of 90 degrees. The airframe was totally destroyed by the fire and the force of the collision. Tragically, all 13 individuals on board were killed in the accident.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation concluded that the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the investigation board retained several assumptions regarding potential contributing factors. These included the possibility that moving passengers toward the rear of the cabin shifted the center of gravity outside the allowable envelope, a failure of the control cables, or an attack on the crew during flight.