What happened
A single-engine aircraft equipped with skis was performing a special flight from Yernozero Lake, situated approximately 108 km northeast of Arkhangelsk. The aircraft was transporting 12 fishermen back to Arkhangelsk at the time of the accident. The departure took place from the surface of an icy lake that was covered in a layer of fresh snow.
During the initial climb phase, while the flaps were set to 30°, the plane struggled to maintain sufficient altitude. Operating at a low airspeed of approximately 100 km/h, the aircraft made contact with treetops measuring roughly 40 meters in height located along the lakeshore. Due to a high angle of attack, the plane entered a stall and crashed into a wooded area, resulting in an immediate fire. The accident resulted in 12 fatalities and left three individuals—the two pilots and one passenger—with serious injuries. One of the crew members later succumbed to their wounds four days after the event.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the takeoff roll spanned approximately 428 meters across ice that was undergoing a thawing process and covered in fresh snow. The crew performed the takeoff procedure at an insufficient airspeed and with an excessive angle of attack for reasons that were not determined. This combination caused the aircraft to climb poorly and adopt a high nose attitude, leading to the impact with trees located 1,410 meters from the point of liftoff.