Investigation Summary
Shortly after takeoff, the crew received a cabin altitude alert and observed that the forward left cabin door was not properly locked, preventing pressurization. Although the situation did not constitute an emergency requiring an immediate landing, the crew opted for a visual approach to return to Manas Airport at night. During the approach, the aircraft was too high and fast. The captain decided to perform a 360 degree left turn (orbit) to lose energy. During this maneuver, the crew failed to monitor their vertical speed and altitude, losing visual contact with the runway. Despite a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) alert, the crew did not take corrective action, and the aircraft impacted the ground with its left wing.
Final Conclusions
The Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) concluded the crash was caused by the crew allowing the aircraft to descend below the minimum maneuvering altitude during a night visual approach. Contributing factors included deviations from Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), poor task sharing between the pilot flying and pilot monitoring, loss of visual contact with the ground, and the failure to react to TAWS warnings. The investigation also noted that the crew was not properly trained for visual approaches.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Yury Goncharov
First Officer
Timofey Vodolagin
Systems & Failure Modes
Cabin Pressurization System
Failed to pressurize due to a faulty door seal, prompting the crew to return to the airport.
TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System)
Triggered a warning as the aircraft descended toward the ground, which the crew ignored.
CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder)
Malfunctioned and failed to record the accident flight, instead containing audio from a previous flight (Flight 632).
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was operated by Itek Air under a lease agreement for Iran Aseman Airlines.
- 02The cabin pressurization failure was likely caused by a jammed seal on the left forward cabin door.
- 03The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was found to have recorded over the accident flight with audio from a previous flight (Flight 632) due to a malfunction.
- 04Ten members of the Kyrgyzstan National U18 Volleyball Team were among the fatalities.
- 05The captain and first officer were both sentenced to over 5 years in a penal colony following the accident, though they were released by 2011.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Crew Training Review
The MAK recommended improved training for crews regarding visual approaches at night and strict adherence to TAWS recovery procedures.