Incident Description
Five seconds after takeoff from runway 01 at Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, during the initial climb, a fire alarm activated on the cockpit panel, indicating a fire in the left engine. The crew declared an emergency, continued climbing, and was cleared to return to the airport. Several turns were executed before beginning an approach to runway 01 under night and marginal weather conditions. On final approach, the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) and struck the ground at a speed of 350 km/h, crashing in flames in a snow-covered field adjacent to a wooded area. The crash site was 1,548 meters short of runway 01. The aircraft was destroyed. The accident resulted in 58 passengers and a stewardess being killed, while 61 other occupants sustained injuries.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the fire alarm was false and unrelated to an actual engine fire. Analysis revealed that the temperature in the left engine compartment rose to 253°C due to a disconnected pipe in the anti-icing system. The accident was attributed to a combination of several erroneous decisions by the flight crew and the following factors:
- The approach was conducted at night and in icing conditions with a single-engine configuration.
- The aircraft's total weight was 10,201 kg above the maximum permitted for landing.
- The approach was performed with a tailwind component.
- The approach speed was excessive.
- The crew initiated a premature descent, resulting in ground impact after passing the MDA.
- There was a lack of crew interaction and coordination.
- The navigator failed to inform the captain about the decision height set at 120 meters.
- The approach was conducted with the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) deactivated.
- The co-pilot failed to monitor instruments properly, contributing to a rightward deviation during the final sequence until the aircraft lost altitude and impacted the ground.