Date & Time: Apr 5, 1996 at 1444 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-76
Operator:
Registration:
RA-76752
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Novosibirsk - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
MSN:
00934 98967
YOM:
1989
Location:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Kamchatka Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
9
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
11
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
20
Aircraft flight hours:
7172
Aircraft flight cycles:
2085
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Novosibirsk to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, carrying 11 passengers, nine crew members and a load of 57 tons of meat and detergent powder. Upon takeoff from Novosibirsk-Yeltsovka Airport, the total weight of the aircraft was 17 tons above MTOW. While descending to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport in limited visibility due to low clouds, at an altitude of 900 metres, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens after it struck the slope of a mountain located about 40 km from runway 34R threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 300 metres below the summit.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Following a wrong setting of the navigation system, the crew failed to follow the approach procedures and was not on the correct track for the airport,
- ATC gave a premature clearance to the crew to descent while he was not aware of the exact position of the aircraft that was not yet on his radar,
- Lack of visibility due to low clouds,
- At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off course by 23 km.