Accident Details
The aircraft departed Ust-Bolsheretsk Airfield at 1520 LT bound for Kikhshik, with five passengers, a crew of two, and cargo including 117 kg of mail, 176 kg of various goods (among them 58 bottles of alcohol), and 300 kg of luggage. Shortly after takeoff, the crew received instructions to return to Ust-Bolsheretsk if they encountered snow en route. A few minutes into the flight, weather conditions deteriorated with snowfall and clouds down to 300 meters. The captain decided to continue to Kikhshik at an altitude of 100 meters, while the minimum safe altitude for the route was 250 meters.
Approaching Kikhshik Airfield, the pilot-in-command attempted to land and made a steep turn to the right, during which control was lost. The airplane struck the ground 570 meters to the left of the airfield, bounced, and came to rest 70 meters farther. All seven occupants were injured, and the aircraft was destroyed. Two days later, one of the passengers died from injuries sustained in the accident. The captain was seriously injured.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was the crew's neglect of ATC instructions and their decision to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The approach to Kikhshik was completed below minima with insufficient visibility of 1,000 meters, and the pilot made a turn to the right at an excessive angle of 30° and at an altitude too low for recovery. Poor weather conditions at the destination were considered a contributing factor.