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Tu-134 crashed because not turned for 2nd landing attempt -- IAC

The airliner crashed because the crew did not turn the plane for another landing attempt and the plane descended lower than the safe altitude

MOSCOW, September 19 (Itar-Tass) — The commission of the Interstate Aviation Committee, including Rosaviation officials, on Monday announced the conclusion of its investigation into the Tu-134A crash, which occurred near Petrozavodsk airport on June 20, 2011.

According to the commission, the airliner crashed because the crew did not turn the plane for another landing attempt and the plane descended lower than the safe altitude when ground lights and marks were not seen. It resulted in the collision of the plane with trees and the ground.

Among other factors that caused the crash was poor interaction between the crewmembers during the landing. The captain was guided by the navigator who was in a light drunken state, and the second pilot was removed from the piloting when the plane was landing. The weather forecast and the forecast for the lower altitude of clouds, visibility and fog were not correct. The information given to the crew about the weather at Petrozavodsk airport 30 minutes and ten minutes before the landing was not correct either. Besides, the crew failed to use the data of some plane indicators for safe landing.

A criminal case was opened over the crash on charges of violation of the air transport safety regulations that caused deaths.

The Rusair airline Tu-134A, which was on a flight from Moscow, crashed near Petrozavodsk airport on the night to June 21. Aboard were 52 people -- 43 passengers and nine crewmembers. Forty seven people died and five were seriously injured in the crash.