What happened
On the morning of the accident, an aircraft departed from Palyavam at 07:44 local time, performing a ferry flight destined for Pevek. During the transit, the crew encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. While navigating the area, the aircraft drifted approximately 12 km north of its intended path along the Palyavam River.
As the aircraft proceeded through heavy snowfall, it impacted the slope of Mt Karpung. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused two injuries among the crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary reason for the accident was the crew's decision to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) while operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), specifically characterized by low cloud ceilings and falling snow. Additional contributing elements identified during the inquiry included inadequate flight organization and insufficient preparation prior to departure.