Background
Kar-Air flight KR482 was a scheduled domestic service from Oulu Airport to Kuusamo, Finland. The aircraft took off and climbed to flight level 70 (FL70), initially flying above the cloud layer. Prior to descent, the crew received weather information for Kuusamo Airport: surface wind 160° at 6 knots occasionally 10 knots, visibility 10 km, overcast ceiling at 1,000 feet, temperature -7°C, and QNH 989 mb.
Flight and Engine Failure
At approximately 07:24 GMT, the aircraft departed its cruising level and entered icing conditions in clouds between 6,000 and 5,000 feet. While descending through about 3,000 feet, the right engine suddenly lost power. The crew feathered the right propeller, transitioned to single-engine flight, and turned back toward Oulu, notifying Kuusamo Airport ATC. ATC cleared the aircraft to FL60 for the return, but the crew reported that the climbing performance did not permit reaching that altitude. The crew requested and was cleared to FL30.
Attempted Climb and Icing
The pilot-in-command had intended to climb to FL60, where clear air would have eliminated icing risk. However, due to ice accumulation on the aircraft—which lacked de-icing and anti-icing equipment—the single-engine climb performance was insufficient. The aircraft managed to climb only about 700 feet to approximately 3,700 feet before it could not gain further altitude. Despite engine power on the left engine exceeding maximum continuous thrust values, the aircraft began to lose altitude due to increasing ice buildup.
Descent and Accident
As the aircraft continued toward Oulu, the crew received a report that the cloudbase in the region was estimated at 300–500 feet. Hoping to descend below the clouds to shed ice or execute an emergency landing, the crew found no clearance between clouds and terrain. By the time the aircraft reached the area of Naamanka village in Pudasjarvi parish, it had lost significant altitude. The co-pilot sighted a trigonometric tower that the aircraft passed over by only a few meters. Approximately three kilometers beyond the tower, at 08:04 GMT, while the pilot-in-command attempted to select a landing site and struggled to control the aircraft, it struck trees and impacted the ground in a swampy, sparsely wooded area 5 km north of Linattijarvi.
Injuries and Damage
Three occupants sustained serious injuries; the others received minor injuries, contusions, and bruises. The aircraft was destroyed beyond repair.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident was the sudden breakdown of the turbine of the right engine, causing loss of power and necessitating single-engine flight in icing conditions. Icing on the aircraft's wet surfaces, which lacked de-icing and anti-icing equipment, decisively contributed to the accident. The aircraft's performance on one engine was insufficient after icing, given its weight at the time.