What happened
During an approach to Saratov-Tsentralny Airport, the flight crew requested and received clearance from Air Traffic Control to proceed with their descent. At the time of the incident, the area was experiencing adverse weather characterized by rainfall and low cloud cover, which significantly reduced visibility. During this descent, the aircraft's altitude became insufficient, leading it to strike treetops before crashing in a forested region situated approximately 4.5 km west of the airport.
Emergency responders were unable to reach the crash site until 22:00 local time due to the difficult environmental conditions. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities among the occupants. Two individuals, identified as the co-pilot and an unauthorized passenger, sustained serious injuries.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the crew proceeded with the approach despite being below established weather minima, which led to a failure to detect and avoid ground obstacles. Several contributing factors were identified:
- Inaccurate meteorological information regarding the current weather and forecast was provided to the crew.
- Air Traffic Control at Saratov Airport made an error by clearing the flight for approach instead of directing it to an alternate airport.
- Deficiencies in flight preparation and overall operational planning.
- The decision to continue the approach under conditions of low visibility.