Imereti | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 255 km/h, the captain initiated the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. In such conditions, he decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost one main gear and came to rest 781 meters further. All 173 occupants were evacuated, among them 11 were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It appears that aircraft was overloaded and the CofG was out of the envelope. In such conditions, a rotation was impossible.

Probable cause:

Poor flight preparation on part of the crew and ground operations. The following factors were reported:
- The total weight of the aircraft was well above the MTOW,
- The CofG was too far forward, out of the enveloppe,
- The crew failed to identify the situation in due time.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Kutaisi: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1985 at 1009 LT

Type of aircraft:

Yakovlev Yak-40

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-87803

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tbilisi – Kutaisi – Poti

MSN:

9 23 09 23

YOM:

1972

Flight number:

SU07G

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

According to published procedures, the crew was supposed to climb to an altitude of 2,400 meters after takeoff from Kutaisi Airport. But due to an Aeroflot Antonov AN-24 that was approaching another airport in Kutaisi, the crew was instructed by ATC to maintain the altitude of 300 meters after departure. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the crew failed to switch from VFR to IFR mode when, in restricted visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 47 km west of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a poor ATC assistance and radar coverage of the region as well as a lack of ATC coordination in the Kutaisi Airport area control center. At the time of the accident, ATC was unaware of the lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions. Lack of discipline, poor work organization and procedures violation were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Kutaisi

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-33085

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

1140 473 15

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over the mountainous terrain near Kutaisi, the single engine aircraft was caught by a downdraft, lost height and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avia 14P near Kutaisi: 32 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1963 at 1053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avia 14

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-61617

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tbilisi – Kutaisi – Sukhumi – Krasnodar

MSN:

014 602 107

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

SU663

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

11682

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Kutaisi, the crew decided to continue under VFR rules despite a limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. In such conditions, the crew did not realize he deviated about 13 km from the prescribed departure route and was cruising at an insufficient altitude. Eight minutes after its departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 meters, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 7 km north of Gereshkori, about 32 km northwest of Kutaisi. The wreckage was found a day later and all 32 occupants were killed, among them three stowaways.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions. At the time of the accident, weather and visibility were poor. The lack of ATC assistance and inaccurate weather information transmitted to the crew were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Kutaisi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1962 at 1852 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-32619

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tsagueri – Kutaisi

MSN:

1 104 473 03

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6904

Circumstances:

All passengers disembarked at Tsagueri Airport and the crew departed Tsagueri at 1839LT on a ferry flight back to Kutaisi. Weather conditions worsened en route and while approaching the mountain at an altitude of 850 meters, the crew encountered clouds. The airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on a mountain, some 24 km north of Kutaisi. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew started the descent prematurely and that he was not properly assisted by ATC who did not provide adequate information according to weather conditions. In fact, the accident is the consequence of a control flight into terrain.