What happened
On a scheduled flight from Odessa, Ukraine, to Thessaloniki, Greece, an AeroSvit Airlines flight operated by a Yakovlev 42, registration UR-42334, experienced a series of navigational failures during its approach to Makedonia Airport. The aircraft was being operated under a charter from Lvovskie Avialinii. During the final approach phase, the crew failed to follow the prescribed standard arrival procedure and deviated from the required DME arc, proceeding directly toward the THS NDB instead.
The flight crew struggled to maintain a stabilized approach, overshooting the localizer course multiple times. Cockpit recordings indicate significant confusion regarding radio navigation aids and distance measurements, as the crew frequently confused kilometers with miles. After overflying the runway without realizing it, the crew initiated a go-around but failed to adhere to the published missed approach instructions or air traffic control clearances. During this period of disorientation, the aircraft continued on an incorrect flight path toward the west.
At approximately 19:12 UTC, despite receiving instructions from the approach controller to continue the approach, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) activated multiple times. Shortly after these warnings, the aircraft struck the side of Mount Pente Pigadia at an altitude of 3,300 feet. The accident resulted in fatalities for those on board the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew failed to properly execute the approach and missed approach procedures, largely due to a lack of command presence and cockpit resource management. A critical contributing factor was the dispatch of the aircraft with an inoperative No 1 VHF/NAV receiver, which violated the minimum equipment list and exacerbated the crew's inability to interpret navigational information.
Additional factors included:
- The crew's failure to declare an emergency despite clear signs of losing situational awareness.
- Inadequate training regarding international flight operations and cockpit resource management.
- Misinterpretation of aeronautical charts, leading the crew to believe radar services were available at a non-radar facility.
- The captain's failure to initiate a maximum performance climb immediately following the GPWS alerts.