Moscow – Batumi

On October 25, 2000 at 05:22 PM, Moscow – Batumi experienced a crash involving Ilyushin II-18, operated by Russian Air Force - Voyenno-vozdushnye sily Rossii, with the event recorded near Batumi Adjara.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

84 people were known to be on board, 84 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 11, passengers on board: 73, passenger fatalities: 73, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. This flight between Moscow and Batumi was operated by the Russian Air Force twice a month. On board were Russian soldiers and family members returning to their base in Batumi following a leave period. Due to poor weather conditions west of Batumi, the crew was cleared to initiate the approach to Batumi-Chorokh Airport from the northeast to runway 31 while the usual approach is from the sea to runway 13. While descending in poor visibility at an altitude of 940 metres and a speed of 340 km/h, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Mtirala (,1336 metres high) located about 17 km northeast of Batumi Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 84 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration RA-74295, MSN 187 0106 02, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 41.6453°, 41.6212°.