Status:	Preliminary
Date:	20 JUN 2011
Time:	23:40
Type:	Tupolev 134A-3
Operating for:	RusLine
Leased from:	RusAir
Registration:	RA-65691
C/n / msn:	63195
First flight:	1980
Total airframe hrs:	35591
Cycles:	20977
Engines:	2 Soloviev D-30-III
Crew:	Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 9
Passengers:	Fatalities: 39 / Occupants: 43
Total:	Fatalities: 47 / Occupants: 52
Airplane damage:	Destroyed
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	1 km (0.6 mls) S of Petrozavodsk Airport (PES) (Russia)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Moskva-Domodedovo Airport (DME/UUDD), Russia
Destination airport:	Petrozavodsk Airport (PES/ULPB), Russia
Flightnumber:	9605

Narrative:
A Tupolev 134A-3, registered RA-65691, was destroyed in an accident near Petrozavodsk Airport (PES), Russia. Forty-seven occupants died in the accident; five survived.
RusAir Flight 9605 had departed Moscow-Domodedovo (DME) at 22:24 on a domestic service to Petrozavodsk. The flight was operated by RusAir on behalf of RusLine. Flight RLU-243 could not be operated by RusLine's Canadair Regional Jets because it lacked the seating capacity needed for the service between Domodedovo and Petrozavodsk.Therefor RusAir was chartered to operate the flight using a Tu-134.
The Tupolev struck trees and crash-landed on a highway while on final approach to runway 01. It broke up and came to rest about 390 metres to the right of the runway's extended centreline and 570 m short of the runway threshold.

Weather at the time of the accident (19:45Z / 23:45 LT):
ULPB 201949Z 10002MPS 2100 RA BR OVC004 15 Q0993 TEMPO 1500 RMK QBB120 QFE741/0988 SC0, 6 =
[weather report at 19:49Z: Wind 100 degrees at 2 m/sec (3.8 knots); 2100 m (6900 ft) visibility in rain and mist; Overcast sky at 400 feet; QNH (Sea-level pressure): 993 hPa; visibility is expected to decrease to 1500m temporarily; cloud base at 120 m]

CONCLUSION:
The airplane flew an approach in conditions worse than weather minimums for the airfield and the crew failed decide to go-around. Instead the airplane descended below the minimum safe altitude in the absence of visual contact with approaching lighting and landmarks, which led to contact with trees and the ground in controlled flight.
Contributing factors were:
- Poor interaction of the crew and poor crew resource management (CRM) from the commander of the flight during the approach. The pilot subordinated himself to the navigator causing the co-pilot to be effectively excluded from decisions.
- The use during the flight of a navigator in a light level of alcoholic intoxication
- Incorrect weather forecast with regards to height of the cloud base, visibility and severe weather - fog.
- The use of navigation equipment that used satellite navigation to determine the aircrafts position, which was in violation of the Flight Manual Supplement for the Tu-134.

Events:

Sources:
» RIA Novosti
» Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) of Russia