What happened
During a mission targeting a railway bridge at Gwaksan, North Korea, the heavy bomber came under fire from a Soviet fighter piloted by Studilin. The engagement occurred near the Seoncheon region and involved multiple passes by the attacking aircraft.
Initial attempts by the Soviet pilot to strike the plane were unsuccessful because of the distance maintained between the two aircraft. However, during a subsequent pass, the engine located on the left wing of the bomber caught fire. Following a fourth attack from the fighter, an engine on the right wing also ignited.
As a result of the sustained damage, the aircraft lost control and descended into the sea. The wreckage was located approximately 15 to 20 kilometers southeast of the Tetsyuzan peninsula. There were 14 fatalities among the crew members involved in the mission.
Findings
The destruction of the aircraft was caused by direct combat with a Soviet fighter aircraft during its bombing run.