What happened
During the final approach phase toward runway 29 at Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the flight crew encountered hazardous weather conditions characterized by visibility levels falling below established minimums. During this descent, the aircraft lost altitude and collided with the approach lighting system situated approximately 2,450 meters before the runway threshold. Following this initial impact, the plane struck a nearby hill and traveled an additional 570 meters before crashing into flames at a distance of 1,880 meters from the runway.
The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Of the occupants on board, 33 fatalities were recorded, while two passengers were successfully rescued from the wreckage.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the primary reason for the sudden loss of altitude was the accumulation of water within the Pitot tubes. This blockage led to incorrect instrument readings, which caused the crew to implement an approach configuration that deviated from standard published procedures.
Contributing factors included several failures in meteorological and operational oversight:
- Inaccurate weather data regarding Irkutsk Airport was provided to the flight crew.
- The official responsible for the weather forecast at the departure airport failed to verify the accuracy of the transmitted bulletin.
- Air Traffic Control at Irkutsk-Magan Airport cleared the aircraft for landing despite the poor visibility and failed to recommend a diversion to an alternative airfield.