On February 19, 1997, a Yakovlev Yak-40 (registration UN-87233) operated by SemeiAvia was involved in an aviation accident near Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft failed to stop on the runway due to an excessive landing speed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft failed to stop on the runway during landing, resulting in an overrun and significant damage to the airframe.
What happened
During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently before the end of the runway. Due to an excessive approach or landing speed, the pilot was unable to bring the plane to a halt within the available runway length. Consequently, the aircraft overran the paved surface and traveled several dozen meters beyond the runway threshold before coming to a stop.
Despite the impact and the extent of the damage, all 18 people on board were able to evacuate the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The aircraft itself sustained damage so severe that it was declared a total loss.
Findings
The primary factor in the incident was the excessive speed at which the aircraft touched down, which prevented the crew from stopping within the remaining runway distance.
Probable cause
The aircraft failed to stop on the runway due to an excessive landing speed.