Investigation Summary
The accident originated from a simple human error during the climb phase. While attempting to balance fuel between tanks, the flight engineer inadvertently shut off a critical fuel pump. This led to fuel flow fluctuations and the eventual flameout of engines 1 and 3 at an altitude of approximately 9,000 metres (29,500 feet). Although engine 2 experienced a period of instability and its generator briefly dropped offline, its normal status was restored and maintained for the remainder of the flight. The crew was forced to navigate an emergency landing at Domodedovo Airport under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with significant system degradation, including the loss of attitude indicators which the crew failed to 'cage' or reset. The investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) highlighted significant CRM failures; the crew's approach was highly unstable, overflying the runway threshold at a sharp angle before attempting a late alignment. The aircraft struck the ground 88 metres to the right of the runway and collided with a concrete embankment, which caused the fuselage to break apart.
Final Conclusions
The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) released its final report on 26 September 2011. The primary cause was determined to be the erroneous actions of the crew during an emergency approach with failed engines. Contributing factors included the accidental deactivation of fuel pumps by the flight engineer, the crew's failure to use all available flight management options, and insufficient training for landing with multiple engine failures. The pilot-in-command, Zakarzha Zakarzhayev, was later convicted of safety violations in 2015 but received a suspended sentence and was subsequently amnestied.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Dagestan Airlines Flight 372 — On 4 December 2010, the Tupolev Tu-154 operating the flight skidded off the runway following an emergency landing at Domodedovo Airport, 45 km south-east of Vnukovo. Two people on board were killed.
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Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Zakarzha Zakarzhayev; pilot monitoring. Later found guilty of safety violations.
First Officer
Pilot flying.
Flight Engineer
Accidentally deactivated fuel pump during fuel transfer.
Navigator
Systems & Failure Modes
Fuel Transfer System
The Tu-154 requires manual management of fuel pumps to transfer fuel between tanks; an incorrect switch selection by the flight engineer led to the starvation of the engines.
Tupolev Tu-154M Engines
The aircraft is powered by three Soloviev D-30KU-154 turbofans; the outer two failed during climb, and the center engine failed during the final approach.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Tupolev Tu-154M built in 1992 (construction number 92A-927) and overhauled in 2009.
- 02One of the fatalities was the brother of the President of Dagestan.
- 03The flight engineer's accidental deactivation of a fuel pump was the initiating event for the fuel starvation.
- 04The aircraft landed parallel to the runway but significantly to the right of the paved surface.
- 05Investigators ruled out poor fuel quality at Vnukovo Airport as a contributing factor.
- 06The aircraft was painted in the 'South East Airlines' livery at the time of the accident due to a recent rebranding.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Crew Training Review
The MAK report recommended enhanced training for Tu-154 crews specifically focusing on emergency procedures for multiple engine failures and landing in IMC with limited power.