Incident Overview
An aircraft operating a flight in support of a geological expedition from Dushanbe to Murghob experienced an in-flight fire while traversing the gorge of the Murghob River. The fire was probably initiated by an accidental spill of acetone in the cabin.
Emergency Response
The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the Murghob and Zapadny Pshart rivers, approximately 60 kilometers west of Murghob. During a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed.
Fatalities
Both pilots and all four passengers were killed in the accident. The wreckage was located two days after the crash.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an in-flight fire caused by an accidental spill of acetone in the cabin.