Tupolev TU-134

The accident was the consequence of a wrong approach configuration on part of the crew. The captain ignored several alerts from the copilot and the navigator and failed to initiate a go-around procedure despite the GPWS alarm sounded for about 10 seconds. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Loss of altitude control in adverse weather conditions following a premature descent,
- The crew failed to follow the published approach procedures, which resulted in the aircraft approaching the airport at an insufficient altitude and at an excessive speed,
- The 4th turn was completed too late at a distance less than calculated, which caused the aircraft to deviate from the approach path with a separation (deviation) of 1,900 metres to the right of the approach path at a distance of 8,600 metres from the runway threshold at an altitude of 500 metres,
- The captain decided to continue the approach while a landing was obviously impossible,
- A total interruption of interactions within the crew during the approach procedure, which brang the captain in a delicate situation without any assistance from the other members of the crew and causing a regular loss of the altitude control,
- The crew let the aircraft passing the admissible vertical speed during the final approach,
- Failure of the crew to initiate a go-around procedure while the Ground Proximity Warning System alarm sounded for about 10 seconds,
- Excessive corrective maneuvers on part of the captain which caused the aircraft to enter a roll angle greater than the permissible limits,
- The violation by the crew of the approach pattern was facilitated by the lack of assistance from ATC at Ivanovo Airport.

It is believed the aircraft lost height on short final due to an insufficient speed.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor planned approach on part of the crew.
- Poor crew coordination.
- Lack of supervision and crew cross checks.

A short-circuit occured in an electrical installation located in the rear compartment of the aircraft, due to the overheating of a cable with faulty isolation.

It was determined that after passing the outer marker, without visual contact with the ground due to heavy rain falls, the crew passed the decision height when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed. A loss of altitude caused by possible windshear is not ruled out.

It was determined that the crew adopted a wrong approach configuration and took the decision to continue the approach after passing the decision height without establishing any visual contact with the runway lights. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The captain got distracted,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- The approach lights were not activated,
- The visibility was reduced due to the night and marginal weather conditions,
- Poor flight preparation,
- Poor approach planning,
- Inaccurate information were transmitted to the crew related to weather conditions and visibilty.

It was determined that the instructions transmitted by ATC on short final were unexpected by the flight crew who took wrong decisions. Because another aircraft of the Hungarian national carrier Malev was also approaching Berlin Airport, ATC messages were transmitted in english on the frequency, and certain elements of the different messages were misinterpreted by the different members of the Soviet crew. On this point, the following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of crew coordination,
- Absence of cross checks and mutual controls in the various actions,
- Difficulties to understand the english phraseology,
- Lack of knowledge and experience in applying the rules related to radio transmission during international flights.
Considering the situation, the captain should have taken the decision to initiate a go-around procedure, all safety conditions being clearly not met.