2011 Garbuzovo Antonov An-148 crash

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On 5 March 2011, an Antonov An-148 passenger aircraft disintegrated mid-flight and crashed near Garbuzovo, a village located in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. All six crew members aboard perished in the accident. The flight was a demonstration run ahead of the plane’s handover to the Myanmar Air Force. The official investigation determined that the breakup occurred after the crew allowed the aircraft to significantly surpass its maximum structural speed during a simulated emergency descent.

Accident

The An-148 was conducting a local demonstration flight originating from Pridacha Airport in Voronezh, Russia, where it had been manufactured by VASO. The aircraft was being prepared for delivery to the Myanmar Air Force, with two representatives from Myanmar onboard. The remaining four crew members were Russian nationals, comprising two pilots and two engineers.

At approximately 10:40 Moscow time, the aircraft crashed near Garbuzovo, a small settlement within the Alexeyevsky District, Belgorod Oblast, roughly 560 kilometres (350 mi) south of Moscow. The crash site was close to residential buildings but did not directly impact any homes.

Debris from the wreckage extended along a path about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long. Witnesses on the ground reported observing parts of the airplane separating prior to its impact. Unfortunately, none of the six individuals aboard survived.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a twin-engine Antonov An-148-100E, with construction number 41-03 and test registration 61708. It was undertaking its 32nd flight as part of the preparation process for delivery to the Myanmar Air Force. Shortly before the incident, the model had received extended certification approval.

Investigation

The Russian Ministry of Industry initiated an inquiry into the crash. Concurrently, the Investigative Committee of Russia commenced a criminal probe to determine if any breaches of flight regulations had occurred. Both flight recorders were retrieved, and the complete wreckage was transported to the VASO facility for detailed analysis.

The investigation concluded in April 2011, determining that the flight crew unintentionally allowed the aircraft to exceed its maximum design speed—specifically surpassing the never exceed speed (V_NE) by over 110 kph—during an emergency descent. This excessive aerodynamic load surpassed the airframe’s structural limits, causing low-frequency oscillations that ultimately led to structural failure and midair disintegration. Contributing factors included insufficient crew coordination during the emergency descent, deviations from prescribed procedures, and misleading readings from basic flight instruments while operating outside normal parameters.