What happened
During a logistics operation intended to resupply the 'Sever' Arctic expedition, an aircraft encountered a fatal malfunction while approaching a drifting ice floe near the North Pole. The flight was operating at coordinates N89.1500 W90.0000, targeting a landing site on the ice.
As the aircraft descended to an altitude of approximately 15 meters, it experienced a sudden downward pitch. This loss of control led to a high-impact collision with the ice surface, which immediately ignited a fire. Despite the intensity of the flames, all five occupants successfully exited the cabin before the wreckage was consumed by the blaze.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the crew members sustained slight injuries during the evacuation and impact. The primary factor contributing to the crash was a critical operational error: a crew member accidentally engaged the reverse thrust system during the final approach, which induced the nose-down pitch and subsequent loss of control.