Russian military preliminary report on their investigation into T-22M3 strike bomber crash was apparently leaked online today.
Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 strike bomber (35 Red / RF-94159), carrying four crew members, has crashed at 13:40 p.m. (Moscow time) in Russia’s northwestern region of Murmansk, according to an initial report.
The accident occurred as the long-range bomber was attempting to land at Olenegorsk airfield, aircraft caught fire and was destroyed.
Of the four crew members, two were injured and were transported to a medical facility to receive assistance whereas two were killed.
Preliminary results of the military investigation said the cause of the accident is a piloting error. Tu-22M3 bombe’s crew allowed landing with increased load.
Tu-22M3 is a is a long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber developed by Tupolev for the Soviet Air Force. The aircraft is currently in service with the Russian Air Force and Russian Naval Aviation.
According to Ausairpower.net, Tu-22M3 bomber airctaft, which remained in production until 1993, is primarily used to conduct nuclear strike and conventional attack operations. It can also be deployed in anti-ship and maritime reconnaissance missions.
On August 2018, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) aircraft manufacturing company rolled out its upgraded Tu-22M3M supersonic strike bomber.
A western aviation expert said most analysts had begun to think that a broken instrument landing system or ILS may be to blame for a “hard” landing of Russian bomber.