What happened
On the morning of the accident, a single-engine aircraft departed Magadan Airport at 09:25 local time, operating under Visual Flight Rules. While the initial weather conditions were favorable, meteorological visibility began to degrade during the flight. Due to communication difficulties, the crew could not be reached by ground authorities.
In response to the worsening environment, the pilot elected to skip a planned stop in Seymchan and instead proceeded directly toward Omsukchan. As visibility continued to drop, the aircraft entered a narrow valley that led into a dead end. In an attempt to maneuver, the pilot increased engine power, but the aircraft struck trees before crashing on the slopes of Mt Nevskaya at an altitude of 1,380 meters. The wreckage was located approximately 40 km southwest of Omsukchan the following day.
Despite the destruction of the aircraft, all eight occupants, which included two children, were successfully evacuated from the site.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the crew made an improper decision to proceed with the flight as weather conditions deteriorated. By canceling the scheduled stop in Seymchan and choosing an unauthorized route, the pilot operated over mountainous terrain without adequate visual references to the ground, thereby failing to adhere to established flight procedures.