Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, a RusAir-operated aircraft (on behalf of RusLine) departed Moscow-Domodedovo Airport at 2224 local time for Petrozavodsk, Karelia. The flight, designated as RusLine Flight 243, carried 44 occupants. During final approach to runway 02, night conditions and fog reduced vertical visibility to 300 meters. The crew continued to descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) without establishing visual contact with the runway lights. The aircraft struck an electric pole, crashed onto a road, and came to rest in a garden, 570 meters short of the runway threshold.
Casualties and Rescue
Eight people were rescued from the wreckage. All other 44 occupants were killed in the impact. Two days after the accident, one survivor died from injuries sustained. Over the weekend—five and six days post-accident—two additional survivors died from burns. Among the deceased was Russian FIFA football referee Vladimir Pettaï.
Probable Cause
Official findings stated that when the aircraft approached the airfield in weather below minimums for the aerodrome, descending on autopilot at a fixed vertical speed, the crew failed to decide to go around in the absence of visual contact with approach lights and landmarks. This permitted the aircraft to descend below minimum descent altitude, leading to impact with trees and the ground in controlled flight.
Contributory factors included: unsatisfactory crew resource management by the commander, who effectively removed the first officer from the control loop in the final stages and subordinated himself to the navigator (who showed increased activity but was mildly intoxicated); the navigator being in a state of mild alcoholic intoxication; unjustified weather forecasts for cloud base height, visibility, and severe weather including fog, as well as non-conformity of weather data transmitted to the crew 30 and 10 minutes prior to estimated landing; and failure to use indications from the aircraft's ADFs and other devices while using indications from an unapproved satellite navigation system (KLN-90) in violation of flight manual supplements for the Tu-134.