What happened
A four-engine aircraft operating as a cargo service departed from Moscow-Vnukovo, destined for 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 encountered adverse weather and restricted visibility. The aircraft made contact with the icy terrain approximately 650 meters before reaching the runway threshold. This impact resulted in the loss of the undercarriage, causing the plane to slide for several dozen meters before stopping 165 meters to the right of the extended centerline. Although the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all 13 occupants escaped the incident without injury.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several critical issues regarding flight preparation and execution. It was determined that the crew had not been provided with an adequate weather briefing for their destination airport. At the time of the approach, visibility had fallen below established minimums. Ultimately, the crew failed to execute a go-around procedure and continued the descent without maintaining visual contact with the runway.