Accident
The aircraft was operating Flight E-15 from Yerevan to Batumi, piloted by a crew from the 113th flight squadron, consisting of Captain (PIC) Suren Avetisovich Nersesyan, co-pilot Eduard Artashesovich Ovsepyan, and flight engineer Gennady Vladimirovich Azizyan. Also in the cockpit was a checker, senior pilot-instructor of the MGA Nikolai Alexandrovich Loginov. The cabin crew included stewardess Rimma Misakovna Mikaelyan. There were a total of 35 passengers on board, including 23 adults and 12 children. [2]
At 12:18 MSK, Flight E-15 entered the airspace of Batumi Airport and the crew established communication with the dispatcher. The dispatcher gave permission to descend to 300 meters for the fourth turn and provided landing conditions with a magnetic course of 127°. At 12:25, the dispatcher reported weather conditions: overcast with a lower boundary at 420 meters, scattered clouds at 300 meters, visibility of 5 kilometers, and an easterly wind (195°) at 5–8 m/s. Although these conditions were above the minimum, the actual weather had deteriorated significantly, with visibility at 3 kilometers and a lower cloud boundary at 200 meters. [2]
When the aircraft was 11 kilometers from the airport, the dispatcher cleared the fourth turn and reported a reciprocal course of 139° as the aircraft was 2 kilometers to the left of the approach course. At 12:29:35, the dispatcher informed the crew that the distance from the airport was 5 kilometers. The Yak-40 was between the coastline and the runway threshold, 1300 meters from the runway threshold, when the checker on board informed the dispatcher about a go-around. According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft flew over a point 2700 meters northwest (azimuth 307°) of the runway threshold, almost on the landing course with a left turn. At this moment, the last communication from the dispatcher to the crew occurred: "Can you make a visual approach?". "Yes, visual approach.". After this, the aircraft, still in the clouds, flew over the mountain Anaria. When the dispatcher attempted to contact the crew again 170 seconds later, there was no response. [2]
Eyewitnesses reported that the Yak-40 made a right turn over the tea factory (9 kilometers from the airport reference point) along the valley of the Korolisckali River, then turned left to a magnetic course of 60°, and continued in this direction. Approximately 1000–1500 meters later, the Yak-40 began a right turn with altitude gain when at 12:34, at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level, with a course of 84°, right bank of 20°, and angle of attack of 14°, it collided with a mountain 594.6 meters high, 15 kilometers from the airport. The aircraft exploded and burned upon impact, killing all 40 people on board. [2]
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Soviet Union near Batumi, Adjara ASSR, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Armenian SSR Aeroflot (Armenian UGA, Yerevan AO)
Georgian SSR Batumi, Adjara ASSR