What happened
A flight carrying a crew of two and five passengers departed from Ust-Bolsheretsk Airfield at 15:20 local time, destined for Kikhshik. The aircraft was transporting mail, various goods including alcohol, and significant amounts of luggage. Prior to departure, air traffic control had advised the crew to return to their origin if weather conditions worsened during the journey.
Shortly after takeoff, the flight encountered deteriorating weather characterized by snowfall and cloud ceilings dropping to 300 meters. Despite being instructed to return to Ust-Bolsheretsk, the captain chose to proceed toward Kikhshik while maintaining an altitude of only 100 meters, which was well below the established minimum safe altitude of 250 meters for this route.
As the aircraft approached Kikhshik Airfield, the pilot attempted a landing maneuver involving a sharp right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the crew lost control of the plane. The aircraft type struck the ground approximately 570 meters to the left of the airfield, bounced, and eventually came to a stop 70 meters further along. The impact resulted in seven injuries, with one passenger later succumbing to their wounds two days after the accident. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
Investigations determined that the crew failed to follow air traffic control instructions, choosing to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite encountering Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The approach to Kikhshik was conducted below required minimums, with visibility reduced to 1,000 meters. A critical factor in the crash was the pilot performing a steep 30-degree turn at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. Additionally, the worsening weather conditions at the destination were identified as a contributing element to the accident.