What happened
During a night flight, the crew was executing a descent to 5,700 meters when a mechanical failure affected the elevator trim system. This malfunction caused the aircraft to enter a steep dive. Although the captain managed to stabilize the plane at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters, a subsequent failure of the gyroscope occurred. This secondary equipment failure led to spatial disorientation for the pilot, resulting in a loss of control.
The aircraft subsequently descended in a near-vertical attitude, striking the ground at a speed of 900 km/h. The impact took place in an open field situated roughly 480 meters from Karacharovo. The force of the crash caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon contact with the terrain. There were 51 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations determined that an electrical short-circuit within the elevator trim system caused the elevator to become jammed in a downward position. This primary malfunction initiated the dive, which became unrecoverable following the failure of the gyroscopic instruments.