Aeromist-Kharkiv Flight 2137
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 20, 1946 in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Products | Aircraft manufacturing, including Antonov An-140 |
Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence
On 23 December 2002, an Antonov An-140 tragically crashed near Ardestan, Iran, resulting in the loss of all 44 individuals aboard. The victims included numerous Russian and Ukrainian aviation experts.
Accident
The flight was traveling from Kharkiv in Ukraine to Isfahan in Iran, with a refueling stopover in Trabzon, Turkey. During a nighttime descent toward Isfahan International Airport, the aircraft collided with elevated terrain, causing the fatal crash that claimed every life on board. Among the passengers were several specialists and officials from Russia and Ukraine. They were en route to attend the official launch event of Iran’s licensed version of the Antonov An-140 commuter aircraft, authorized by the Antonov design bureau. Initial statements by Iranian authorities suggested pilot error as a possible cause; however, they later emphasized that it was premature to identify the exact reason behind the accident. A concise summary of the investigation findings was made available on the Flight Global platform.
Investigation
The recovery of the aircraft’s flight data recorder facilitated an initial inquiry, which identified "procedural navigation errors by the crew" as a key factor in the crash. The report issued by the Commonwealth of Independent States' Interstate Aviation Committee attributed the accident primarily to inadequate crew coordination, failure to adhere to prescribed approach procedures, and misuse of the aircraft’s GPS navigation system—contravening operational guidelines and crew qualifications for its use during approach. Additionally, the crew neglected to utilize information from other onboard navigation instruments and did not attempt an alternative approach after recognizing that the GPS was likely providing inaccurate distance measurements.
See also
References
External links
- Aftermath of the plane crash on YouTube from the Associated Press Archive
Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Iran Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2002