Flight and Diversion
A crew operating a flight from Norilsk Airport to Vorkuta at night was informed by air traffic control that a landing at Vorkuta was not possible because of poor weather conditions and visibility below minima. The crew was subsequently diverted to Sovetskiy Air Force Base, located east of Vorkuta and also known as Vorkuta-2 Airport.
Landing and Accident
During the approach to Sovetskiy AFB, visibility was poor and crosswinds were present. The airplane touched down approximately 15 meters to the left of the snow-covered runway. It then crashed into the snow and came to rest, broken into two pieces.
Occupants and Damage
All five crew members on board were unhurt. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and was written off.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be: "Approach to a poor equipped airfield below minima weather conditions."