Overview
On a flight from Ayanka Airstrip to Tilichiki, an aircraft transporting three crew members, one passenger, and ten empty fuel barrels experienced an engine fire and subsequent crash. The accident occurred approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Ayanka, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and fatalities of all four occupants.
Flight Details
The flight departed Ayanka Airstrip at 1332 local time. Sixteen minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 1,800 meters under good weather conditions, the pilot reported a strong fuel odor to air traffic control and decided to return to Ayanka.
Accident Sequence
Six minutes after the fuel smell report, the engine fuel pressure dropped while the odor persisted. One minute and thirty-five seconds later, the engine caught fire. The crew descended and attempted an emergency landing. At an altitude of 400 meters, the aircraft nosed down and impacted a small icy lake at a 60-degree angle. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
According to official findings, a fuel leak of unknown origin occurred in flight. The pilots' decision to return to Ayanka was correct, but the intensity of the engine fire prevented the crew from completing an emergency landing.