What happened
While operating a flight from Ust-Kamenogorsk toward Alekseyevka, the aircraft encountered heavy rain and low cloud cover that fell below established minimum visibility standards. During this period of poor weather, the plane entered the clouds and drifted approximately 6 km away from its intended flight path.
An attempt to abort the flight and return was initiated, but the maneuver was performed too late to avoid impact. The aircraft type struck a steep incline on Mt Aina-Sulak, which has an elevation of 1,121 metres, at an altitude of approximately 970 metres. The crash site was located roughly 21 km southwest of Alekseyevka. The accident resulted in 12 fatalities, including both the pilot and co-pilot as well as all 10 passengers on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew's decision-making was a critical factor. The primary reason for the crash was that the crew continued the flight into adverse weather conditions despite visibility being below required minimums.