Accident
During the takeoff roll on runway 31R at Tbilisi-Novo Alekseyevka Airport, the pilot-in-command initiated rotation after the aircraft reached V1 speed. The nose gear lifted off the ground, and the aircraft pitched up to an angle of 6–7 degrees. However, both main landing gear remained on the runway surface. The aircraft continued rolling until the end of the runway, overran, and traveled 490 meters beyond the runway threshold. It struck the localizer antenna, continued for another 190 meters, and eventually crashed into a residential area. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames.
Damage and Casualties
The aircraft was completely destroyed, as were nine houses in the residential area. All 24 occupants of the aircraft, along with four individuals on the ground, were killed. Additionally, ten other people sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight and was loaded with 20 tons of tea. Ground personnel violated loading regulations by loading three tons of tea without the knowledge of the flight crew. The cargo manifest and weight and balance sheet were incorrect, resulting in the aircraft being overloaded by 2 tons at the time of the accident. Furthermore, the center of gravity was outside the forward limit. Additionally, all 16 passengers did not have tickets and were not authorized to board the commercial cargo flight.