What happened
During a scheduled flight leg from Novokuznetsk to Tashtagol, the aircraft encountered meteorological conditions that were below established minimums, characterized by heavy precipitation and low cloud cover. Despite the deteriorating visibility and weather, the crew elected to proceed with the flight. During this phase, the aircraft drifted approximately 8 km to the left of its intended course.
The flight ended when the plane struck a forested slope on Mt Pustag, which has an elevation of 1,570 metres. The impact occurred at an altitude of roughly 1,050 metres, approximately 25 km north of the Tashtagol destination. The accident resulted in three fatalities, involving both passengers and all crew members, including a check pilot.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the decision by the flight crew to continue the flight despite encountering weather conditions below legal minimums rather than returning to the previous airfield.