What happened
The incident occurred during an approach to Okha on a flight originating from Khabarovsk. At an altitude of approximately 250 to 300 metres, the copilot, who was at the controls, initiated a steep bank turn of 45 degrees. This maneuver caused the seaplane to stall, leading to a crash into the bay. Following the accident, three crew members were rescued with various injuries, while five other occupants lost their lives.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the accident was primarily due to negligence by the flight crew in failing to adhere to established approach and landing procedures. The pilot-in-command was found to have lacked discipline and responsibility by delegating control to the first officer without maintaining adequate supervision. Although a traffic pattern was required for the approach, the crew instead executed a direct approach that included an excessive bank angle. The copilot’s actions were cited as blatant violations of the flight manual, characterized by arrogance and recklessness. It was this specific negligence, rather than a simple piloting error, that caused a loss of airspeed during the turn, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.