Accident Overview
While cruising at an altitude of 1,000 meters in snowfall, the aircraft experienced an engine failure. The crew attempted an emergency landing, but the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a swampy, wooded area approximately 45 kilometers from Sangar. All 13 occupants sustained injuries, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the engine failure occurred after melted snow and ice entered the engine air intake. Contributing factors included the crew's failure to feather the propeller after the engine failed, which caused high drag; the crew's modification of their route and continuation at the prescribed altitude; poor weather conditions that did not allow flight under visual flight rules (VFR); and a lack of air traffic control assistance.