Overview
On an unspecified date, a cargo aircraft transporting 10,475 kilograms of grapes from Tashkent to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, with intermediate stops at Fergana, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Irkutsk, crashed into a wooded mountain 32 kilometers north of Ulan Ude airport. All eight occupants were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Flight History
The flight departed Tashkent and proceeded normally through its scheduled stops. While en route from Krasnoyarsk to Irkutsk, the crew received information about poor weather conditions at their intended destination. They decided to divert to Ulan Ude, despite the fact that this airport was not considered suitable for the type of aircraft being operated.
Accident Sequence
As the aircraft approached Ulan Ude from the north, it was flying in marginal weather conditions. At an altitude of 1,200 meters, the airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain located 32 kilometers north of the airfield. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in the deaths of all eight individuals on board.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain resulting from a crew error: the crew mistakenly set an incorrect QNH for the approach. Contributing factors included lack of visibility and poor flight preparation.