Night Approach Accident at Surgut Airport (CCCP-65675)

Flight and Approach Details The aircraft departed Kuybyshev and began a night descent to Surgut Airport under marginal weather conditions that reduced visibility. During the approach, air traffic control instructed the pilot to adjust the flight path and follow the glide path after the aircraft drifted to the left. Investigators believe the captain became distracted at this point. ## Loss of Control and Impact After passing the decision height, the captain continued the approach without establishing visual contact with the runway lights and without initiating a go-around. At an altitude of 38 meters and a speed of 286 km/h, the aircraft passed 50 meters to the left of the runway threshold. The captain decided to continue the approach. One second after ATC instructed a go-around, the aircraft struck the ground in a snowy field approximately 714 meters beyond the runway threshold and 113 meters to the left of the runway. ## Crash and Casualties The impact produced a positive acceleration of 4.8 g. The aircraft lost its right wing, came to rest upside down, and caught fire. The accident resulted in 20 fatalities, including the copilot, and 31 injuries.