What happened
During a nighttime flight originating from Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport, the crew began their approach toward Murmansk Airport amidst challenging weather characterized by snowfall. After passing the middle marker, the aircraft was positioned approximately 400 meters to the left of the intended approach path when a sudden snow squall significantly reduced visibility.
While flying below the established glide slope, the captain misidentified ground lights and chose to accelerate the rate of descent. This maneuver led the aircraft type to strike the icy surface of Kilp Yavr Lake, situated roughly 1.5 km before runway 31. The impact resulted in the loss of the left wing, causing the plane to settle in shallow water approximately 1,562 meters short of the runway. The accident resulted in 32 fatalities and left 32 survivors who were evacuated from the wreckage. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the event.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that several contributing factors led to the crash. The primary cause was a wrong decision by the crew to descend below the glide slope. This error was compounded by the following elements:
- Rapidly deteriorating visibility caused by heavy snowfall upon arrival
- Inadequate assistance from Air Traffic Control
- Incorrect instructions provided to the flight crew during the final approach phase