Fatal Single-Engine Mail Flight Crash Near Nikolayevsk-on-Amur (CCCP-01231)

Incident Overview and Flight Details A single-engine aircraft departed Nikolayevsk-on-Amur on a mail flight to Okha. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, or operator. ## Weather, Loss of Orientation, and Impact Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered poor weather conditions, and visibility dropped below minima due to snowfall. The crew decided to return to the departure point but lost orientation and did not realize their altitude was insufficient. While cruising at 190 meters in limited visibility, the aircraft struck trees and crashed on the wooded slope of a hill 282 meters high, located 4.1 km from the runway centerline. ## Damage and Casualties The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. Both pilots were killed. ## Official Probable Cause The official findings attributed the accident to poor flight preparation by the crew, who decided to take off without any information related to the weather conditions en route. Local meteorologists later transmitted information to the crew, but that information was considered too optimistic and failed to reflect the truth.