What happened
On a flight from Tyumen to Tavda, a single-engine aircraft carrying two crew members and 13 passengers was performing its final approach from the south. During this phase, the flight crew encountered difficult weather conditions characterized by low cloud ceilings, rain, and visibility reduced to approximately 2 km.
At an altitude of roughly 175 meters, the aircraft struck an Aeroflot PZL-Mielec AN-2TP, registration CCCP-44992. This second aircraft had recently departed from Tavda Airport on a service bound for Tyumen and was carrying 14 people. The impact caused both planes to lose control and enter a steep dive.
The wreckage of both aircraft settled in an open field situated 18 km south of the Tavda airfield. Investigators located the two debris fields 392 meters apart. There were 29 fatalities in total, as all occupants on both flights perished in the crash.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the mid-air collision was primarily driven by the operation of both aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) during poor weather conditions, compounded by a lack of adequate air traffic control assistance.