What happened
During a formation flight involving several similar aircraft, an incident occurred approximately 76 minutes after departure. The captain notified the flight leader that engines number 1, 2, and 4 had ceased functioning. Following this loss of power, the pilot departed from the formation and descended to a lower altitude in an effort to reach Chita-Kadala Airport.
As the aircraft was unable to successfully divert to the intended airfield, the crew deployed the landing gear and flaps to prepare for an emergency descent into an open field. Upon impacting the ground, the undercarriage separated from the airframe. The aircraft slid several dozen meters across the terrain before a fire erupted. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the subsequent flames, and there were six fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the engine failures revealed that the primary cause was water contamination within the fuel supply, which led to the simultaneous failure of three engines. Additionally, it was noted that the crew did not adhere to established emergency protocols during the crisis.