Flight Details
The accident occurred during a flight from Nurata to Samarkand, on the leg from the sovkhoz (state farm) "Kommunizm" to Samarkand. The aircraft was en route when it encountered below-minima weather conditions, including low clouds and heavy rain.
Captain's Actions
The captain failed to return to the departure point or alter course effectively; his children were alone at home while his wife was in hospital. He deviated from the prescribed flight path to the east in an attempt to find better weather, flying along the Nuratau mountain range, which rises to 1,100 metres.
Accident Sequence
While flying along the mountain range, the aircraft lost height due to strong katabatic winds. It subsequently crashed into a slope at an elevation of 930 metres, approximately 3.4 kilometres from Shamurat, in the Nurata district of the Samarkand region. Both pilots and all nine passengers were killed.
Investigation Findings
Official findings stated the probable cause as the crew's wrong decision to continue the flight in below-minima weather conditions.