Adjara | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

This flight between Moscow and Batumi was operated by the Russian Air Force twice a month. On board were Russian soldiers and family members returning to their base in Batumi following a leave period. Due to poor weather conditions west of Batumi, the crew was cleared to initiate the approach to Batumi-Chorokh Airport from the northeast to runway 31 while the usual approach is from the sea to runway 13. While descending in poor visibility at an altitude of 940 metres and a speed of 340 km/h, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Mtirala (,1336 metres high) located about 17 km northeast of Batumi Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 84 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the approach in poor weather conditions below the minimum prescribed altitude and while deviated from the approach path. The following contributing factors were identified:
- Navigational error on part of the crew during the final stage of the approach,
- ATC based at Batumi Airport failed to determine the exact position of the aircraft and failed to warn the crew accordingly,
- The crew 's decision to continue the approach in such conditions rather than to divert to a suitable alternate airport,
- Erroneous data transmitted by ground navigational aids in the Batumi area.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-134A in Batumi

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev TU-134

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-65053

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

49838

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Batumi Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the runway had not been thoroughly cleared from snow.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 in Batumi: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1975 at 1234 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87475

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Yerevan - Batumi

MSN:

9 44 20 37

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

SU015E

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1244

Aircraft flight cycles:

1151

Circumstances:

While completing a visual approach to Batumi Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and initiated a go around procedure. The pilot-in-command completed a first turn to the right, flew for about 1,5 km then made a turn to the left. While cruising at an altitude of 550 meters at a speed of about 300-350 km/h in a flaps and gear down configuration, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Mtirala (595 meters high) located 15 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 40 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

ATC failed to inform the crew about the real weather conditions at Batumi Airport and the crew initiated a go around procedure in marginal weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 3 km instead of the 5 km as mentioned by ATC. In such conditions, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP off Cape Tsikhisdziri: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1966 at 1003 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-96224

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Batumi - Poti - Sukhumi

MSN:

1G72-08

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

G-72

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

327

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Batumi to Sukhumi with an intermediate stop at Poti. Ten minutes after take off from Batumi Airport, while cruising at a height of 250 meters some two km offshore, the engine failed. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft into the Black Sea near a fishing vessel some 1,8 km off Cape Tsikhisdziri. A passenger was killed while all 11 other occupants were rescued and picked up by the crew of the fishing vessel. The aircraft sank and the wreckage was recovered from a depth of some 34-36 meters on 14SEP1966.

Probable cause:

Engine failure due to problems with the magnetos.