Investigation Summary
Flight 663 departed Kutaisi at 10:45 for the second leg of its journey to Krasnodar. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered a severe thunderstorm with cloud bases dropping to 300 to 400 meters and visibility falling below 3 kilometers. Rather than returning to Kutaisi or taking the established 'roundabout' route via Poti, the Captain attempted to navigate around the storm cells by turning right toward the mountains. At 10:52, the radio operator reported flying at 900 meters in heavy rain. One minute later, the aircraft struck a mountainside at that same altitude, 32 kilometers northwest of Kutaisi. Post-crash recovery efforts revealed 32 bodies, including three stowaways who were not listed on the official manifest of 24 passengers and 5 crew members.
Final Conclusions
The commission concluded the crash was a result of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) driven by poor operational discipline and air traffic control failures. Key findings included the controllers' decision to authorize a visual flight at 1,500 meters despite known poor weather in mountainous terrain and their failure to relay a critical weather update showing cloud cover had dropped to 450 meters. The Pilot-in-Command was found at fault for continuing visual flight below the safe altitude in IMC. Additionally, the investigation highlighted systemic management failures at Kutaisi Airport, where the night shift controller was forced to remain on duty for 14 hours due to the unauthorized absence of the day shift replacement, leading to significant controller fatigue.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
The flight was cleared to proceed visually at 1,500 meters, but the crew continued to fly visually after entering clouds and heavy rain, leading to a loss of situational awareness regarding terrain.
Air Traffic Control (ATC)
The Kutaisi controllers failed to prohibit the departure or provide updated meteorological data to the crew, and authorized an altitude that was unsafe given the local cloud ceiling.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was an Avia 14M, a Czechoslovakian-built version of the Ilyushin Il-14.
- 02The flight manifest listed 29 people, but 32 bodies were recovered, confirming three stowaways were on board.
- 03The air traffic controller on duty had been working for 14 hours due to a delayed shift change.
- 04A flight departing earlier had reported the main route was impassable and diverted via Poti, but this information was not given to Flight 663.
- 05The aircraft struck the mountain at an altitude of 900 meters while the crew was attempting to bypass a thunderstorm.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Shift Management Reform
The investigation criticized the deputy head of Kutaisi airport for allowing shift irregularities that led to extreme controller fatigue.