Stavropolskaya Aktsionernaya Avia Flight 1023

Stavropolskaya Aktsionernaya Avia Flight 1023 was an international charter flight between Stavropol in southern Russia and Trabzon in Turkey operated by the Russian airline Stavropolskaya Aktsionernaya Avia (SAAK). On 18 March 1997, while cruising at 6,000 m, the Antonov An-24 operating the flight suffered a catastrophic structural failure, in which its tailplane separated in mid-flight. The aircraft then disintegrated and crashed into a forest, killing all 50 passengers and crew on board.

The final report concluded that the crash was caused by improper maintenance by the airline and lack of oversight on the proper maintenance procedures. The aircraft had been brought back from multiple flights in Africa and corrosions had appeared under the aircraft's lavatory. The ground crew had not properly maintained the aircraft, causing the cracks to form and widen, that eventually travelled through the entire tailplane and caused the tail to separate.

Accident

The flight was a frequently operated charter between Stavropol and Trabzon on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. On 18 March 1997, the crew of the flight underwent pre-flight checks and prepared the Antonov An-24 for flying. At 08L40 a.m, the crew received weather information for their route. The relayed comms indicated that there would be strong winds of up to 90 km/h at altitudes between 5,000 m and 7,000 m. Afterwards, the cargo was loaded with 170 kg of baggages and 41 passengers. At around 09:30 a.m local time, the aircraft took off from Stavropol Shpakovskoye Airport.

Crash

After taking off, the aircraft climbed to 2,700 m and approached Severny. At 09:37 a.m, communications between the ground controller and the crew were transferred to Mineralnye Vody. The aircraft climbed further to 4,800 m and continued to climb to 5,400 m. The crew then requested for further climb to 6,000 m, before finally levelling off. The flight crew were at their assigned stations and kept doing their task. The engine thrust was set and the autopilot was engaged. The aircraft was flying with a steady airspeed of 320 - 330 km/h.

While leveling off, flight engineer Rustem Asanov went out of the cockpit and walked to the tail section, as per the assigned flight procedure that had been given to him. Flight attendant Olga Spivakova was still at her station. Around 37 minutes after takeoff, at 10:03 a.m. local time, one of the passengers had stood up and gone to the lavatory and had just closed the door when a sudden loud explosion was heard, followed by a huge swoosh of wind and the separation of the tailplane of the Antonov An-24. Flight engineer Asanov was quickly sucked out of the aircraft to his death, while some seats on the back also detached from the aircraft. The aircraft immediately nosedived, with parts of the fuselage chipping off. Due to the abrupt changes in air pressure, g-forces, and oxygen level, everyone on board was quickly affected by hypoxia.

The radar blip of Flight 1023 suddenly disappeared from the radar, and instead, there were now two objects flying on a northward trajectory. Both objects kept flying for approximately 4 km before they finally disappeared as well. Air traffic control then tried to contact Flight 1023, but got no answers. Shortly after, the tailplane fell onto an open field in Cherkessk, while the remaining fuselage crashed onto a forest, crashing down with its nose and with a steep 55-degree left-wing angle. The remaining fuel on board resulted in a huge explosion. All 50 people on board were killed. According to forensics investigation, majority of those on board were still conscious when the aircraft impacted the ground.