Narrative:A Yakovlev 40 passenger jet was destroyed when it flew into a mountainside near Makhachkala Airport (MCX), Russia. All 47 passengers and four crew members were killed.
The flight had departed Elista Airport (ESL) on a domestic flight to Makhachkala. During the descent into Makhachkala visibility decreased. The crew was not aware of its position and descended over a mountainous area. It collided with Kukurtbash Mountain at an elevation of 550 m.
It appeared there were 13 undocumented passengers on board. Yak-40 aircraft are normally equipped with 32 passenger seats.
Also, the maximum takeoff weight was exceeded by 260 kg.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» Soviet Transports
» The Bryan Times - Nov 8, 1991
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not
display the exact flight path.
Distance from Elista Airport to Makhachkala Airport as the crow flies is 472 km (295 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Networkĺs opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.