What happened
A cargo operation traveling from Moscow to Anadyr via Syktyvkar and Katanga ended in a fatal accident during the final approach to the destination. The aircraft was transporting 9,905 kilograms of oranges along with 384 kilograms of mail. While the initial segments of the flight were completed without incident, the final leg toward Katanga occurred under challenging environmental conditions characterized by nighttime visibility and active snowfall.
During the descent to 400 meters, the aircraft was flying at high speed with its landing gear and flaps retracted. The plane entered a left bank of approximately 20 to 25 degrees before colliding with trees in a forested region situated 13 km from the runway threshold. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that destroyed the airframe. No emergency communications were transmitted by the crew before the impact. There were eight fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigation into the accident suggests that the primary factor was the accumulation of ice on the wings and stabilizers. This buildup occurred while the aircraft was operating through severe icing conditions during its night approach.