What happened
On a cargo flight operating from Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport to Keperveyem, an Antonov AN-12 experienced a critical mechanical failure during the cruise phase. The aircraft, which was performing a scheduled service with an intermediate stop in Magadan, was transporting 17.43 tons of cargo along with two passengers and a crew of nine.
At approximately 15:20 local time, while flying at an altitude of 7,500 meters roughly 430 km northeast of its origin, the crew notified air traffic control of a fuel leak involving the number one engine. Following this report, the crew requested a descent to 6,600 meters and sought permission to return to Komsomolsk-on-Amur. During this period, the engine caught fire, prompting the crew to declare an emergency and initiate a descent.
The aircraft subsequently became uncontrollable and struck a mountain slope approximately 82 km southwest of Omsukchan. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, with wreckage discovered the following day at an altitude of 1,006 meters. There were 11 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlight that the sequence of events was initiated by a fuel leak in the first engine, which subsequently led to an in-flight fire.