What happened
A three-engine aircraft was conducting a night flight from Abadan to Mashhad when the crew decided to divert to Isfahan Airport because of unfavorable weather conditions at the intended destination. The flight departed from Isfahan at 05:35 local time, intending to proceed to Mashhad.
While performing an ILS approach amidst dense fog, the aircraft maintained a nose-high attitude. During this maneuver, the base of the empennage made contact with the runway surface, causing the tail section to separate from the fuselage. The impact resulted in the loss of the undercarriage. Following the structural failure, the aircraft lost control and slid several dozen meters along the runway before veering off the paved surface. The aircraft's wings were partially torn off during the excursion, and a fire subsequently broke out, resulting in the partial destruction of the airframe.
Findings
At the time of the accident, vertical visibility was recorded at only 200 feet due to heavy fog. The accident resulted in at least 46 injuries, with no fatalities reported. The primary factor in the structural failure was the nose-high attitude maintained during the approach in low-visibility conditions.