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Russian investigators try to determine what caused Boeing crash that killed 50 people on board

Associated Press
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In this photo provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry fire fighters and rescuers work at the crash site of a Russian passenger airliner near Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan republic, about 720 kilometers (450 miles) east of Moscow, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013. A Russian passenger airliner crashed Sunday night while trying to land at the airport in the city of Kazan, killing all people aboard, officials said. The Boeing 737 belonging to Tatarstan Airlines crashed an hour after taking off from Moscow. There were no immediate indications of the cause. (AP Photo/Russian Emergency Situations Ministry) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry fire fighters and rescuers work at the crash site of a Russian passenger airliner near Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan republic, about 720 kilometers (450 miles) east of Moscow, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013. A Russian passenger airliner crashed Sunday night while trying to land at the airport in the city of Kazan, killing all people aboard, officials said. The Boeing 737 belonging to Tatarstan Airlines crashed an hour after taking off from Moscow. There were no immediate indications of the cause. (AP Photo/Russian Emergency Situations Ministry) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 and provided by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry fire fighters and rescuers work at the crash site of a Russian passenger airliner near Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan republic, about 720 kilometers (450 miles) east of Moscow. A Russian passenger airliner crashed Sunday night while trying to land at the airport in the city of Kazan, killing all people aboard, officials said. The Boeing 737 belonging to Tatarstan Airlines crashed an hour after taking off from Moscow. There were no immediate indications of the cause. (AP Photo/Russian Emergency Situations Ministry) (The Associated Press)

Russian investigators are combing through the charred fragments of a Boeing 737 jetliner as they try to determine what caused its crash that killed all 50 people on board.

The plane belonging to the Tatarstan Airlines crashed Sunday while trying to land at its home port in the Russian city of Kazan, the capital of the oil-rich province of Tatarstan. The son of the provincial governor was among the victims.

Alexander Poltinin, the head of the local branch of Russia's Investigative Committee, said Monday the plane crashed while making a second attempt at landing. He said the investigators are trying to determine why the crew couldn't land the first time.

Poltinin said the investigators are looking into a possible pilot error or an equipment failure.