What happened
During an approach to Yuzhno-Kurilsk, the flight crew observed sea conditions characterized by waves approximately 1.5 meters in height. Despite the presence of these rough waters, the decision was made to proceed with a landing within the bay.
Upon making contact with the water, the aircraft experienced significant structural damage when the right float was ripped from the airframe. This caused the aircraft type to roll toward the right side. The vessel eventually came to a stop approximately 120 meters away from the shore, where it became partially submerged.
During the emergency response, all 20 occupants on board the aircraft were successfully pulled from the wreckage. However, the operation resulted in a tragedy when a rescuer passed away due to hypothermia. The aircraft's fuselage sustained multiple breaches from water ingress, leading to the vessel partially sinking.
Findings
- The crew proceeded with a landing maneuver despite observing rough sea conditions with 1.5-meter waves.