What happened
On April 18, an aircraft underwent a local test flight departing from Khanty-Mansiysk Airport following repairs for a nose gear collapse that had occurred at Chita Airport. The crew, consisting of three pilots and two engineers, was conducting the flight when the aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 6,000 meters. During this phase, the ailerons were moved to an angle of 8.5 degrees, initiating a right-hand turn.
Approximately eight seconds after the maneuver, the aircraft lost control, overturned, and entered a steep dive. The descent accelerated to a rate of 100 meters per second, with the aircraft reaching speeds of 620 km/h. Under a load of 5.25 g, the left wing detached from the airframe and struck the tail assembly, causing the tail to be torn away. The aircraft continued its uncontrolled descent until it impacted an open field situated roughly 19 km northwest of Khanty-Mansiysk Airport, near the Ob River. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and five fatalities. Debris from the crash was located by search teams one day after the event.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident occurred because the captain attempted an unauthorized barrel maneuver that violated all established flight procedures.