What happened
A cargo operation transporting 15.5 tons of apples was traveling from Tiksi to Irkutsk, scheduled to stop at Batagay Airport. During the night approach into Batagay, the flight encountered marginal weather conditions that significantly restricted visibility, preventing the crew from maintaining visual contact with the terrain or the airfield.
Rather than adhering to standard instrument procedures, the crew attempted an approach configuration intended only for Visual Flight Rules (VFR). This deviation caused the four-engine aircraft to descend beneath the required minimum altitude. When the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) alerted the cockpit to the danger, the captain deactivated the alarm and proceeded with the descent.
While traveling at a speed of 355 km/h, the aircraft impacted a mountain slope located approximately 25 km from the airport. The impact occurred during a 22-degree right bank, causing the plane to disintegrate upon hitting the snow-covered ground. There were six fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigation into the accident revealed that the primary cause was inadequate approach planning and an improper configuration by the flight crew. The decision to continue the descent below the minimum descent altitude without visual contact with the ground was critical. Furthermore, the captain's choice to disengage the GPWS warning system prevented the crew from receiving necessary alerts regarding their proximity to the terrain. Under such low-visibility conditions, the crew should have executed a go-around procedure instead of attempting the VFR-style approach.