Accident Overview
On final approach to Chita-Kadala Airport, the aircraft was positioned too high on the glide path. The captain opted not to initiate a go-around and instead pushed the control column, causing the aircraft to nose down. It struck the ground 240 meters past the threshold of runway 11.
Sequence of Events
Upon impact, the nose gear was torn off. The aircraft continued for several hundred meters before veering off the runway to the right. It came to rest in a grassy area, broken in two and engulfed in flames. All 184 occupants were rescued; four sustained injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a wrong approach configuration by the crew, who failed to perform a go-around maneuver when the aircraft's position on the glide was against published procedures.
Contributing Factors
Several contributing factors were reported: incomplete approach briefing, failure to follow approach chart points prior to reaching the approach circuit, failure to follow flap and landing gear procedures, an altitude of 1,030 meters over the inner marker instead of the prescribed 750 meters, a speed 90 km/h above the prescribed approach speed, wrong decisions by the crew, and poor crew coordination.