What happened
During a repositioning flight intended for maintenance overhaul, an aircraft flying from Baku toward Kharkov was operating the leg between Kizlyar and Stavropol when it encountered severe weather. The flight crew faced challenging conditions characterized by snowfall and cloud ceilings that were below established minimums. Despite these visibility issues, the decision was made to proceed with the flight rather than divert or return.
While navigating through these conditions, the aircraft impacted a mountain slope situated northwest of Dubovka in the Aleksandrovskoye district of the Stavropol region. The impact resulted in two fatalities, involving the pilot and an aircraft mechanic traveling as a passenger. A second crew member sustained serious injuries during the accident.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the primary factor in the crash was the poor judgment exhibited by the flight crew, who chose to maintain their course despite being unable to fly safely within the weather minimums. Additional contributing elements included a lack of adequate assistance from air traffic control and functional difficulties involving the onboard VHF radio equipment.