What happened
Following departure from Przhevalsk Airport with seven passengers on board, the crew of the single-engine airplane reached an altitude of 2,700 meters while operating in visibility conditions of approximately 5 km. As the flight progressed past the Santash Pass, meteorological conditions deteriorated significantly.
In response to the worsening weather, the captain elected to descend to a lower altitude to remain beneath the cloud layer. During this phase of the flight, snowfall reduced visibility to roughly one kilometer. While flying at high speed under these restricted conditions, the aircraft collided with a hill covered in snow. The impact caused the airframe to disintegrate. There were nine fatalities and no survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted that the pilot chose to decrease altitude without obtaining necessary clearance from Air Traffic Control. Furthermore, the decision to proceed with the flight while visibility was below established minimums was a primary factor in the collision. Additionally, investigators noted that inadequate flight preparation by the crew contributed to the circumstances leading to the crash.