Accident Description
Twenty-six seconds after takeoff from runway 24 at Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while climbing through 200 meters, the crew retracted the landing gear and reduced engine power to nominal. At an altitude of 250 meters and a speed of 340 km/h, the airplane entered a right turn after receiving clearance to climb to 1,500 meters. The crew did not acknowledge the clearance. Seven seconds later, the airplane entered a left turn, nosed down, and crashed at 550 km/h into a house located 5,400 meters from the runway end and 1,800 meters to the right of its extended centerline.
Damage and Casualties
The aircraft and the house were totally destroyed. All 61 occupants of the aircraft were killed, as was one person in the house. Another person on the ground was injured.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that both artificial horizons failed during the initial climb for undetermined reasons. The combination of this instrument failure and limited visibility caused the pilots to suffer spatial disorientation, leading to a loss of control.