What happened
A four-engine aircraft was operating a cargo mission from Moscow-Vnukovo to Sredny Island, with a scheduled stop in Salekhard. The flight was transporting 9.6 tons of supplies intended for the personnel of the North Pole 32 drifting polar station. On board were seven passengers and six crew members.
During the final approach to the Sredny Ostrov Airfield, the flight crew encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by restricted visibility. While attempting to land, the aircraft descended too low and made contact with the icy terrain approximately 650 meters before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the loss of the undercarriage, and the plane slid for several dozen meters before coming to a halt 165 meters to the right of the extended centerline.
Despite the significant damage to the airframe, which was determined to be beyond repair, there were no injuries among the 13 occupants of the flight.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the low altitude during the final approach.
- Adverse weather and limited visibility contributed to the crew's inability to maintain proper clearance from the ground.