Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, an aircraft departed from Khabarovsk-Novy Airport. The crew received clearance to climb to 4,000 meters and later to continue to 8,000 meters. While climbing through 4,500 meters, the copilot transmitted a brief distress call reporting severe vibrations and loss of control. The aircraft subsequently entered a dive and crashed in a 50–60° nose-down attitude with a slight left bank, resulting in a huge explosion. The crash site was located approximately 15 kilometers southwest of the village of Kurun and 96 kilometers northeast of Khabarovsk. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 86 occupants were killed.
Flight Sequence
After takeoff, the crew climbed to 4,000 meters as instructed. Air traffic control then cleared them to continue climbing to 8,000 meters. During the climb at about 4,500 meters, the copilot sent a distress call indicating severe vibrations and that control had been lost. The aircraft then entered a dive. The final impact attitude was 50–60° nose-down with high speed and a slight left bank. The wreckage was found southwest of Kurun.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the aircraft struck the ground at a high speed in a 50–60° nose-down attitude on a slight left bank. However, investigators were unable to identify the exact cause of the accident. Civil investigators were not granted access to certain classified documents. Several possible causes were considered: a technical problem with the autopilot, ailerons, or elevators. Additionally, the possibility that the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by Soviet forces conducting an exercise from the Litovko Training Center was not ruled out.