Investigation Summary
The aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-18V, departed Sochi at 19:21 local time under night conditions with clear weather. After reaching an altitude between 150 and 250 meters, the crew began a scheduled right turn toward Lazarevskoye. However, the aircraft suddenly reversed its bank, entering a sharp left turn and a steep descent. Witnesses on naval vessels in the area reported seeing the aircraft crash into the sea approximately 10.5 kilometers from the shore, with the darkness of the night highlighting the impact. The impact occurred in a region where the seabed drops into a deep canyon covered in a thick layer of silt, which hampered efforts to retrieve the flight recorders or significant portions of the airframe. Among the victims was prominent Soviet psychologist Vladimir Nebylitsyn.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation was unable to definitively establish the cause of the crash due to the lack of recovered flight data and wreckage. Investigators ruled out an onboard explosion after examining floating debris and remains. The most prominent theory involves a massive bird strike, as the flight occurred during a peak migration period for large birds in the Black Sea region. Other possibilities, such as a sudden mechanical failure of the flight controls or engines, were considered but could not be proven.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Ivchenko AI-20K Engines
The aircraft was powered by four turboprop engines; investigators found no evidence of engine failure prior to impact.
Flight Control Surfaces
A sudden failure of the ailerons or rudder was suspected as a cause for the uncommanded left bank, but could not be verified.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft had accumulated 15,718 flight hours and 7,899 cycles at the time of the accident.
- 02The crash site was located in an underwater canyon at a depth of 600 meters.
- 03No traces of explosives were found on the recovered debris or human remains.
- 04The accident was the deadliest involving an Ilyushin Il-18 at the time it occurred.
- 05The weather was clear with visibility over 5 kilometers and mild winds.