Accident
On the morning of the evacuation mission from the SP-22 Polar station, an AN-12 aircraft was loaded with cargo including tractors, woods, and various equipment, along with nine passengers and a crew of seven, for a flight to Dikson. Earlier that day, the ice had cracked, creating a large crack about two meters wide, reducing the available takeoff distance to only 900 meters. In response, cargo was offloaded, and the crew decided to attempt takeoff with a total weight of 52 tons.
During the takeoff roll, the captain initiated rotation approximately 30 meters before reaching the crack. Both main landing gear struck the crack, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable and crash in flames.
Aftermath
The radio navigator was killed in the accident. All other occupants sustained injuries, some of which were serious. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation identified that the time on the ground between landing and takeoff was 3 hours and 50 minutes, which was excessive and allowed the ice to crack. The crew failed to offload all nine passengers to reduce the total weight before takeoff. Additionally, poor weather conditions during the preceding days caused the evacuation mission to be postponed, which was considered a contributing factor.