What happened
A flight departing from Moscow-Domodedovo was conducting a night approach to Krasnovodsk Airport under conditions of reduced visibility caused by low cloud cover and darkness. During the final stages of the descent, the crew adjusted the flaps to an angle of 45°. At this point, the aircraft experienced an increased descent rate of 10 meters per following second.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 30 meters, the pilot-in-command, who was the copilot, lost visual contact with the runway. Despite the lack of visibility, the captain elected to proceed with the landing. The aircraft type impacted the runway at a speed of 275 km/h, landing 3 meters left of the centerline. The impact caused the plane to bounce and roll for several hundred meters before the airframe split into two sections. The accident resulted in 11 fatalities and 120 injuries, while 15 occupants survived without harm.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the pilot-in-command utilized an incorrect approach configuration. A primary factor was the decision to continue the descent after passing the minimum descent altitude without establishing visual contact with the runway. Other contributing elements included:
- High approach speed and an excessive rate of descent
- Inadequate preparation for the landing and poor approach planning
- Deficiencies in crew coordination and a lack of oversight by the captain
- Failure to execute a go-around maneuver
- Environmental factors including low clouds and nighttime conditions