What happened
A cargo flight was conducting a multi-leg journey from Voronezh to Susuman, with scheduled stops in Kurgan, Krasnoyarsk, and Lensk. The flight was transporting three tons of food supplies, specifically cheese and sausages, along with five crew members and four passengers. During the flight segment following the departure from Kurgan Airport, a malfunction involving a fuel pump occurred, prompting the crew to divert to Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo Airport for necessary repairs.
After completing the repairs and continuing toward the final destination of Susuman, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 5,700 meters. During this phase, the crew encountered difficulties with radio communications and experienced spatial disorientation. Due to the depletion of fuel reserves, the pilot initiated an emergency descent to attempt a landing approximately 75 km southeast of Zyrianka Airport. During the approach, the aircraft was configured with 38° of flaps at a speed of 177 km/h. The aircraft impacted the ground and slid for 488 meters before stopping. All nine occupants survived the impact with only minor injuries, though the aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
- The crew experienced spatial disorientation during the cruise phase.
- Low fuel levels necessitated the emergency landing attempt.
- Communication difficulties hindered coordination during the flight.