Accident Details
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight to Yeniseysk, carrying six crew members, a passenger in charge of the cargo, and a load consisting of 1,042 kilograms of sausages, 1,200 kilograms of meat, 550 kilograms of herring, and 2,152 kilograms of oranges. The approach was initiated at night in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to snowfall. On final approach, the crew switched on the approach lights after sighting trees. The captain decided to gain altitude and increased engine power, but the aircraft struck trees located on the top of a hill. It then stalled and crashed in a wooded area 105 meters to the right of the inner marker and 1,140 meters from the runway threshold.
Casualties and Damage
Two crew members were killed, while five other occupants sustained injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the navigator, the radio operator, and the mechanic were intoxicated at the time of the accident. The flight engineer and the navigator failed to follow the approach procedures, likely due to the influence of alcohol. The navigator failed to maintain the calculated rate of descent and altitude and did not report about visibility of ground landmarks. The mechanic failed to report the airspeed and altitude as indicated by the radio altimeter until the aircraft descended to 60 meters above the ground. Poor crew coordination and the captain's failure to initiate a go-around procedure were considered contributing factors.