Airbus A320 accident near Sochi, Rs, May 3, 2006
On May 3, 2006 at about 10:13 pm local time, a 1995 Airbus A320, registered EK32009, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR missed approach) near Sochi (Sochi, Russia airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 113 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2006 · about 10:13 pm local time
- Place
- Sochi, Serbia · Sochi, Russia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 113 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 211, built 1995 · all A320s on the register
- Registration
- EK32009 · no longer on the register · serial 547
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR missed approach) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Armavia Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: Zvartnots at 8:47 pm
- Destination: Sochi (Adler)
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 8 | |||
| Passengers | 105 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.