Aircraft overrun at Sochi-Adler Airport

No fatalities • Sochi-Adler, Russia • Landing (descent or approach)

A positioning flight involving a crew-only aircraft ended in an excursion after the plane failed to stop on the runway at Sochi-Adler.

What happened

On January 6, an aircraft was performing a repositioning flight from Sukhumi to Sochi-Adler. This flight followed a previous day's event where a scheduled trip from Riga to Sochi had been diverted to Sukhumi because of unfavorable weather conditions at the original destination. The flight on the morning of the incident was operating without any passengers.

During the landing phase, the aircraft arrived at the runway with an incorrect configuration. Upon touchdown, the plane reached the surface at a speed that was too high for the remaining runway length. Following the landing, the crew did not apply the brakes in accordance with standard operating procedures. As a result, the aircraft could not be stopped within the available distance, leading to a runway overrun. While all six crew members were able to exit the plane without any injuries, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified several critical errors during the approach and landing sequence. The primary issue was an incorrect approach configuration resulting from the crew's failure to adhere to the established approach checklist. Specific contributing factors included:

  • Delayed deployment of the undercarriage and flaps during the approach
  • Maintaining excessive velocity during both the approach and at the moment of touchdown
  • Improper use of braking systems following contact with the runway
  • A lack of effective coordination among the flight crew

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the flight crew's failure to follow approach checklists, leading to an incorrect aircraft configuration.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1981-01-06 Tupolev TU-134 accident near Sochi-Adler, Russia?

A positioning flight involving a crew-only aircraft ended in an excursion after the plane failed to stop on the runway at Sochi-Adler.

Were there any fatalities in the 1981-01-06 Tupolev TU-134 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1981-01-06 involved a Tupolev TU-134, registration CCCP-65698, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Sochi-Adler, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the flight crew's failure to follow approach checklists, leading to an incorrect aircraft configuration.

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