The crash of a Russian Yak-42 airliner in September that killed 44 people including the Lokomotiv hockey team was caused by inexperienced pilots inadvertently applying braking on take-off, investigators said on Wednesday.
“The take-off speed decision by the pilot – 190 km/h – was 20 km/h less than that required for the actual take-off weight of 54 tons and nominal power regime of the engines," MAK technical commission chairman Alexey Morozov told a news conference in Moscow.
Morozov said one of the pilots was apparently pressing hard on a brake pedal while pulling the control yoke up. It was not discovered which pilot was responsible.
The investigators established at least four causes that contributed to the crash, including a lack of pilot training, the absence of control over the crew’s preparation for flight, the pilots’ failure to follow standard takeoff procedures and poor coordination between the crew during the takeoff.
In addition, neither pilot was fit for flying, as one had traces of a sedative drug in his blood and the other had been diagnosed with a motor-skill debilitating disease.
The MAK report said the Yak-Service company operated without its own fleet, renting planes with crews from private owners or state-run air carriers.
"It is impossible to ensure proper preparation of the crews under these conditions," the report said.
According to the investigators,the plane was in good technical condition before the takeoff.
The Yak-42, chartered by Yaroslavl-based Lokomotiv hockey team, crashed just after takeoff on September 7 as the team was heading to Minsk for their season opener against Dinamo Minsk. Forty-four people were killed including a slew of former NHL stars and future draft prospects.
