What happened
During a nighttime flight from Magadan toward Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the crew reported a malfunction involving the right engine while cruising at 3,600 meters. Although air traffic control advised the pilot to divert to Sobolevo Airport for an emergency landing, the decision was made to proceed toward the original destination. As the aircraft struggled with reduced power, it descended to an altitude of 2,700 meters.
While the crew believed they maintained enough clearance to pass over a nearby 2,000-meter peak, weather conditions worsened significantly due to falling snow and reduced visibility. While flying at approximately 2,000 meters, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Yurshik, which stands at 2,059 meters, roughly 60 km northwest of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The wreckage was discovered on January 4, and the accident resulted in 23 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations determined that the right engine experienced an in-flight failure caused by a failure of the cylinder head. Furthermore, the crew's choice to continue toward the destination rather than diverting to a closer airport was identified as an inappropriate decision.