Initial Report From Interstate Aviation Committee Say Plane Was Operating Normally

An initial report from the Moscow-based Interstate Aviation Committee says that the pilots of the Boeing 737 which went down Sunday in Tatarstan stalled the airplane, and then overcorrected, entering a steep dive which caused the plane to impact the ground at a near-vertical attitude.

According to the IAC's report relayed by the Associated Press, the aircraft's engines and other systems were working properly up until the impact.

The pilot had missed his initial approach to Kazan airport for unspecified reasons according to the report, which was released Tuesday. The report cites data collected from the airplane's flight data recorder which indicates that the pilots applied full power and entered into a 30 degree climb ... about twice as steep as a normal takeoff attitude, according to Flight Safety Foundation president Kevin Hiatt.

When the pilots tried to regain speed by lowering the nose of the airplane, they were at an altitude of about 2,200 feet. The airplane was at about 75 degrees nose down when it impacted terrain.

Tatarstan Airlines head Aksan Giniyatullin said at a news conference that the two pilots had 1,900 and 2,500 hours flying experience. He said that while both had undergone required training, they apparently had never before been in a situation where they had to abort a landing and go around.

FMI: www.mak.ru/english/english.html