A video of the crash of a Tu-22M3 long-range bomber in the Murmansk region appeared on the network 22 January. Three crew members died in that crash. One of the navigators is in serious condition at the hospital.
The video clearly shows, that a heavy aircraft lands in difficult weather conditions. The light of the plane's landing light barely breaks through the snow veil. This headlamp should help the crew to see the runway before landing before touching. It can be assumed, what's in a dense snow charge, when the runway is covered with snow, discern, where the concrete starts is almost impossible.
From the ground, the light of the powerful landing light became less distinguishable, than ten seconds before the hard landing of the plane. That is, the crew had practically no time for that., that, discerning the ground, somehow change the flight mode, eg, try to go around.
The plane was landing at high vertical speed.. That is why, instead of smoothly touching the runway, there was an impact on concrete. In this case, the plane at a horizontal speed of approximately 200 kilometers per hour almost hit the takeoff. Shock overload clearly exceeded all norms. The missile carrier immediately began to collapse. The nose of the plane with the cockpit broke off, rolled over in the air, hit the ground and ignited. Then the fire engulfed the entire plane.
According to experts, miracle, that at least someone managed to survive in such a situation. There was practically no chance of the catapult being triggered.
As it appears, when landing the aircraft in adverse weather conditions and with limited visibility - it was difficult for the crew to maintain the landing glide path, that is, keep the desired altitude and rate of descent.
- Usually training flights in such conditions are canceled, - said one of the former military pilots. - It could have happened like this, that the plane took off in simple weather conditions, and then after a while the airfield was covered with a snow charge. In the Murmansk region, this happens often in winter.. But in this case, alternate aerodromes are always determined when organizing training flights., to which the flight director should direct the aircraft, if necessary, for landing. Here, looks like, this rule was ignored.
According to experts, the technical factor cannot be ruled out. for example, for some reason, the pilots may have incorrect altimeter data. There could be engine problems as well., due to which, during the landing approach, they did not allow keeping the required speed and altitude.
- Tu-22M3 - heavy vehicle, more than a hundred tons, and not easy to operate. It is very difficult to change the flight mode quickly due to the large inertia, - said the interlocutor.
According to him, the commission will study the recordings of radio communications between the crews in the air and the control tower.
- This will make it clear, whether the crew was correctly informed about the weather situation in the landing area, whether they controlled the landing glide path of the bomber and what commands were given to the pilots, - said the expert. - For example, whether the order was given to go around or to an alternate airfield, whether to bail out.
Until the reasons for the disaster in Olenegorsk are clarified, the Tu-22M3 flights are temporarily suspended.
The Tu-22M3 crash in the Murmansk region was the second serious incident with military aircraft in January. Previously, two Su-34 bombers collided over the Sea of Japan. Out of four pilots only one survived.
Sergei Saveliev
