Incident
On a prospection mission for the Ural Geological Administration, an aircraft departed Beloretsk at 0709 local time with three crew members and three passengers aboard. The flight was to perform aerial work as part of a logging program in the Inzer region.
At 0730 local time, the crew reported their position to air traffic control and indicated they were about to commence aerial work. While cruising in clouds at an altitude of 400 to 600 meters above the ground, the aircraft struck the east slope of Mount Yamantau, a peak 976 meters high located 35 kilometers east of Inzer.
Response
After communication with the crew was lost and the aircraft failed to return to base, search and rescue operations were initiated. Two days later, the burned wreckage was discovered approximately 70 meters below the summit of the mountain. All six occupants were killed.
Investigation
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident. According to the findings, the accident resulted from a loss of control in altitude after the aircraft encountered orographic currents specific to the terrain of Mount Yamantau. The crew responded by increasing engine power but was unable to maintain suitable control of the aircraft.