Airbus A320-211 – EK32009

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 3 May 2006

Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-211

Owner/operator: Armavia

Registration Number: EK32009

Location: 6 km SW off Adler/Sochi Airport (AER) – ÿ Russia

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 113 / Occupants: 113

Component Affected: Airbus A320 Aircraft ? specifically the flight control systems, navigation system, and pilot input mechanisms.Airbus A320 Aircraft ? specifically the flight control systems, navigation system, and pilot input mechanisms.

Investigating Agency: MAKMAK

Category: Accident

On August 26, 2023, at approximately 02:00 UTC, Armavia Flight 967, an Airbus A320, crashed into the waters of the Black Sea near Adler/Sochi Airport, Russia, resulting in the loss of all 113 passengers and crew. The flight was aborted due to deteriorating weather conditions, specifically low visibility and rain, and was initiated at Adler/Sochi Airport. The flight crew, operating under adverse weather conditions, initiated a return to Yerevan due to the reduced visibility and cloud base. Following a discussion with Sochi Airport regarding the weather, the flight crew decided to return to Yerevan, and then requested updated weather information. At 02:00, the crew initiated a descent to an altitude of 3600 meters, following the initial weather advisory. Subsequently, the flight controller instructed the aircraft to descend to 600 meters, and the pilot then performed a climb to 450 meters. The aircraft experienced a rapid and significant loss of altitude, culminating in a collision with the water. The aircraft broke up, sinking to a depth of approximately 700 meters. The incident was characterized by a rapid and uncontrolled descent, exacerbated by the pilot?s lack of adequate control inputs and insufficient monitoring of the aircraft’s descent parameters.On August 26, 2023, at approximately 02:00 UTC, Armavia Flight 967, an Airbus A320, crashed into the waters of the Black Sea near Adler/Sochi Airport, Russia, resulting in the loss of all 113 passengers and crew. The flight was aborted due to deteriorating weather conditions, specifically low visibility and rain, and was initiated at Adler/Sochi Airport. The flight crew, operating under adverse weather conditions, initiated a return to Yerevan due to the reduced visibility and cloud base. Following a discussion with Sochi Airport regarding the weather, the flight crew decided to return to Yerevan, and then requested updated weather information. At 02:00, the crew initiated a descent to an altitude of 3600 meters, following the initial weather advisory. Subsequently, the flight controller instructed the aircraft to descend to 600 meters, and the pilot then performed a climb to 450 meters. The aircraft experienced a rapid and significant loss of altitude, culminating in a collision with the water. The aircraft broke up, sinking to a depth of approximately 700 meters. The incident was characterized by a rapid and uncontrolled descent, exacerbated by the pilot?s lack of adequate control inputs and insufficient monitoring of the aircraft’s descent parameters.

Description

Armavia flight 967, an Airbus A320, crashed into the water of the Black Sea during an aborted night-time approach to Adler/Sochi Airport, Russia, killing all 113 occupants. Armavia flight 967 departed Yerevan (EVN) at 00:47 on a scheduled flight to Sochi (AER). Weather at Sochi was poor with rain and poor visibility. Radio contact with Sochi was established at 01:10. The flight crew discussed the current weather conditions at Sochi with the approach controller. At 01:26 the crew decided to return to Yerevan due to the below minima weather conditions at Sochi. At 01:30 the crew again requested the latest weather information. Visibility now was reported as 3600 m with a cloud base at 170 m. The captain now decided to continue to Sochi instead. Clearance was give to descent to an altitude of 3600 m. At 02:00 further descent instructions for 1800 m were issued by the air traffic controller. Weather conditions for an approach to runway 06 were now equal to the airport minima. Sochi Tower then cleared the flight to descend to 600 m. The glideslope was captured and the gear was lowered at 02:10. The crew reported ready and where cleared for landing. Weather was reported as 4000 m visibility with a cloud base at 190 m. Weather deteriorated quickly and thirty seconds later the controller reported that the cloud base was now at 100 m. He instructed the flight to abort the approach and told the crew to make a climbing right hand turn to an altitude of 600 m. The aircraft was flying at 300 m and performed a climbing turn to 450 m. Simultaneously the groundspeed dropped and the Airbus descended until it contacted the water and broke up. Wreckage sank to a depth of 700 m. CONCLUSION: “The fatal crash of the Armavia A-320 EK-32009 was a CFIT accident that happened due to collision with the water while carrying-out a climbing manoeuvre after an aborted approach to Sochi airport at night with weather conditions below the established minima for runway 06. While performing the climb with the autopilot disengaged, the Captain, being in a psychoemotional stress condition, made nose down control inputs due to the loss of pitch and roll awareness. This started the abnormal situation. Subsequently the Captain’s inputs in the pitch channel were insufficient to prevent development of the abnormal situation into the catastrophic one. Along with the inadequate control inputs of the Captain, the contributing factors to development of the abnormal situation into the catastrophic one were also the lack of necessary monitoring of the aircraft descent parameters (pitch attitude, altitude, vertical speed) by the co-pilot and the absence of proper reaction by the crew to the EGPWS warning.

Source of Information

http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/A320,_vicinity_Sochi_Russian_Federation,_2006http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/A320,_vicinity_Sochi_Russian_Federation,_2006

Primary Cause

Poor weather conditions, specifically low visibility and rain, significantly degraded the aircraft’s operational environment, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled descent. The pilot’s actions, including the loss of pitch and roll awareness and insufficient control inputs, contributed to the event.Poor weather conditions, specifically low visibility and rain, significantly degraded the aircraft’s operational environment, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled descent. The pilot’s actions, including the loss of pitch and roll awareness and insufficient control inputs, contributed to the event.

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