What happened
While operating a flight from Simferopol to Yerevan, the crew of an aircraft encountered significant weather disturbances over Gali, Abkhazia. While cruising at an altitude of 10,200 meters, the flight crew observed cumulonimbus clouds ahead; however, no course correction was implemented to avoid the weather cells.
As a result, the aircraft entered the convective activity, leading to exposure to intense turbulence. Despite the severity of the atmospheric conditions, the crew managed to maintain control and complete the flight, eventually reaching Yerevan Airport safely. Upon arrival and subsequent parking on the apron, a technical inspection was performed on the airframe.
The inspection revealed that the aircraft had been subjected to extreme G-loads, specifically ranging from +3.05 to -0.65. These forces resulted in extensive structural damage. There were no fatalities or injuries reported during the event, but the damage was so significant that the airframe was declared a total loss.
Findings
Investigation into the incident determined that the primary factor was the encounter with severe atmospheric turbulence caused by the decision to fly through cumulonimbus clouds.